What is Your Yoga Goal?
"Life is a question and how we live it is our answer."
– Gary Keller
Like having a favorite child, it's taboo to have a favorite client, but I do. Her name was Sue.
When I met Sue, she was in her 80s. She came to me because she had an acoustic neuroma (benign tumor pressing on her acoustic nerve) that caused tinnitus, vertigo, and wayward balance.
Sue also had significant kyphosis, lymphoma, severely broken both ankles (these required multiple surgeries), and her toes were overlapping. None of this was making balance easier.
But balance wasn't the real reason Sue was motivated. She (finally) had a grand-baby. She wanted to play with her. To get up and down off the floor. To push the stroller. To make the most of their precious time together.
Technically, I taught Sue, but Sue was a teacher for me too. She was a case study in making the practice fit the body, not the body fit the practice.
She did exercises to strengthen her feet while brushing her teeth. She would stretch her back while cooking. She did breathing and movement before getting out of bed to activate new neural pathways.
She got stronger, her balance got better, toes got straighter, movement more mindful, and she made marvelous memories with her granddaughter.
We worked together for several years. Navigating new challenges including a fall and fractured pelvis. Eventually a cancer diagnosis. Sue passed away surrounded by friends and family. Celebrating a life well lived and loved.
I tell you Sue's story because I think we over-complicate practice. We get caught up in poses, alignment, aesthetics. Time logged on the mat or meditation cushion. But what really motivates you? What's the ultimate aim?
At their core, all mind-body, health-wellness, spiritual practices have a similar aim: reduce suffering, increase connection. Not give you a perfect body, zen master mind, or make all the difficulty and discomfort disappear, but to give you tools, techniques and strategies to make the most of whatever is happening.
We'll explore short, sweet, simple tools to make the most of the holiday season during the Week of Miracles. 5 days of diverse 20-minute practices to demonstrate that getting grounded and connected doesn’t need to take a long time or a lot of effort. Just a sliver of your day to show up for you.
We start on Monday. Register here: A Week of Miracles
You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain! Join live or enjoy the recordings that will be posted in your virtual library.
May your practice show up for you,
Alison
Holiday Schedule:
Kanda will be on Winter Break 12/23-1/3. Classes resume on 1/4.
