Yoga poses can be difficult, no challenging at time. I had a friend tell me once that he wouldn’t come to my yoga class because there was no way he could stay still enough to do that tree pose.  After we chuckled a bit, I told him that for me tree pose is not about being stiff or not moving. Tree pose is not about not falling, it is about balance.  And balance doesn’t always mean applying equal forces, it means always moving towards the center.

Sometimes you feel like you are tilting more to the right and you have to put more effort into moving to the left so that you get back to the center.  Then there are times that as soon as you start to feel centered you start tilting over to the left.  There in lays the dance of life that yoga can represent.  It’s like you are only centered momentarily before swaying to the other side, and isn’t that like a tree.

In a strong wind a tree can sway violently in all directions yet even in a gentle breeze a tree will sway.  Learning to do tree pose, and there are several modifications to fit every level, has taught me that things are always changing and even a seemingly small event can cause a noticeable disruption in our plans.  Yoga poses can help you to successfully mange our ever changing lives.

I believe the trick is not to expect that there will be no disruptions but to be able assess the situation so that we can move closer to the center again.  A more balanced perspective can cultivate acceptance of the events of life.

Things are never entirely the way you perceive them, unfortunately, I am not always right or justified in my actions.  Yet my acceptance of my actions and those of others enables me to see things more as they truly are so that I can make decisions that will get me what I truly desire.

The yoga pose known as Tree Pose has taught me to:

1) Stay in the present moment if you want to get it right.  If my mind is busy with other thing I am not able to balance on one leg.  It just will not happen for me.  But If I stay in the present moment then I can assess my pose to see where I need more or where I need less.  This could mean being more or less strong, flexible and/or relaxed.

2) As I am able to focus on my breath, I become more able.  My awareness of my breath enables me to feel my center.  Your breath is a great mechanism for cultivating concentration and awareness.  By becoming more aware of my breath I am able to relieve some of my anxiety and place my attention on understanding and solutions.

3) Be easy with yourself.  If you fall, it will be okay.  It happens to everyone.  So don’t beat yourself up if you are not able to hold the pose.  Regroup and try again and again and again.  There will be times when you can easily move into the pose and times that even after numerous attempts it just isn’t happening.  Whichever happens, reward yourself with a pat on the back.

4) Nobody in looking at you, they are too busy trying not to fall themselves.  Don’t worry about looking silly or not nailing the pose.  Everyone else should be too consumed with getting it to pay any attention to you.  And if they are looking (and even laughing) at you that means that they are not trying at all.  As you’ve heard before, falling is not failure, not getting back up is.  Develop an “I don’t care” attitude about who is watching and get back to doing your pose.

I am not perfect, and no longer want to be perfect, but mentioned above are some things that yoga, meditation and mindfulness have helped me get right in my life.  Learning to be patient and forgiving with yourself as you keep falling out of a pose has cultivated more self-compassion and compassion towards others than I expected.

For me to maintain a balancing pose and a balanced life requires me to practice staying in the moment, breathing consciously, being kind to myself, and don’t give a f@#k if anyone is watching me (as I fall yet again).

Much Love,

CharmaineW

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