I just finished a workout that I really had no business doing. My arms are shaking as I write this and slurp down my raw protein & cold brew concoction, but I could not get the words out of my brain and into my computer fast enough.
I ran a mile, then, broken up into varying sets of repetitions, completed 100 pullups, 200 pushups, and 300 squats, then finished by running another mile. I modified, and don’t think I followed the rules to a “T”, but this fun little ditty is also known as “Murph”, and it is a CrossFit Hero WOD that many do on Memorial Day to honor and remember the men and women who have fought and died while serving in the military. I don’t know what made me do it today, because I’m not a member at a box, I don’t work at the CrossFit gym anymore, and although I have been lifting in our little garage gym, I wouldn’t say I’m anywhere near as fast and strong as I used to be. . . .but maybe that’s exactly why I did it.
“Honor your limitations”, “Be easy with your body”. . . . These are things I say a lot as a yoga teacher, and hear a lot as a yoga student. I like doing yoga, so I tend to do it a lot, which means I hear this a lot. So I started thinking, does this advice serve me? Maybe not.
I’m good at being easy. I’m really good at honoring my body’s limitations. I’m one of the few who have never had a yoga injury by pushing too far or attempting something beyond my ability. This is a good thing in yoga, of course, but I’m starting to see it seep into my life in ways that would be good for the average “type A”, overachieving, perfectionist, but for someone who is so far from being one of those, this idea of “being easy” and “honoring limitations” is counterproductive, I think.
Yoga teaches us to listen to our bodies, but it also teaches us to listen to our minds, and get to know ourselves on a deeper level. I am realizing that what I need to be the best version of myself might be the opposite of what is so attractive about yoga, and that is okay!
My body may have had no business doing that workout, but my mind and my soul needed it, loved it, and appreciated it.
Sometimes I have to just say, “Screw my limitations!” Sometimes I need to push past the pain and do the hard stuff. Sometimes it’s not about how much I can lift or how many pushups I can do, but how many I think I can do, or the inner dialogue that comes up when I want to quit, or I don’t even want to start.
It’s just about balance. When you are feeling wound up and burnt out, you may need a little more yin in your life. This would be when you would listen to your body, honor your limitations, and be easy. Most people who seek out yoga are in need of this, which is why it is much more common for a teacher to cue in this way. However, if you are too yin and have been going a little too easy on yourself and are maybe lacking confidence or drive, you could use more of a challenge by adding more yang elements into your practice and/or life. Fear of failure? Attempt a pose way out of your comfort zone. Feeling weak-minded? Stay in Warrior II for two whole minutes and notice the mental chatter. Undisciplined? Take up an Ashtanga practice, or at least devote yourself to a daily home practice. Or, perhaps you climb a mountain, lift some weights, or sign up for a half marathon or obstacle course race. Let your practice serve you, instead of meeting you where you are sometimes. This can be tricky, because if you are someone who loves competition, sweat, challenge and discipline, you will naturally be drawn to the practice that feeds that, where a yin or restorative class would probably be more of what you need in order to find balance in your life. The same goes for the opposite.
It’s not always about doing what you want, or what feels good. This has been a tough lesson for me to learn, because what draws me to yoga is that it feels so good and lets me take child’s pose whenever I want. But, I have to remember that I came to yoga from a very different place than where I am now. I was sore from head to toe from playing rugby, and had been a very competitive two-season varsity athlete all throughout high school before that. Now my life looks very different, and so to expect the same effect from the same practice doesn’t make sense.
So pay attention to what draws you to certain things, whether it be the type of exercise you participate in, or even the people you surround yourself with. Is it feeding into what you already are, or trying to balance that aspect of yourself with the complete opposite? This has been such an interesting lesson in self-discovery for me, and I think many people can benefit from this kind of introspection. What can you learn about yourself, by paying attention to yourself? What do you need, as opposed to what you think you need?
I need more of this in my life
and this. . .
and this!
YOGA with MINDY 