Stretching on the Web

This morning, I talked with my lovely man about all of your comments on
home practice vs. yoga classes.

We love both, but he feels
pretty strongly about his class last night. He’s been working like a
Tasmanian Devil this week and found it beautiful to go to his yin yoga
class, during which they are now holding some of their poses for 15
minutes. (Holy moly! Might as well ask me to fly across the Atlantic.
Without a plane, I mean.)

“What about my face?” he asks. “How could I remember
to relax my jaw without prompting?  And my eyes, how do I let those go?
Oh, and my throat, I love it when she reminds me to relax my throat.
And Savasana is so good when someone else is in charge.”

This is the reason I’m going to class at lunch
today. There is something wonderful and easy about receiving the
practice. Yes, I’m doing the work, and making all the personal choices
about how much, how far, how strenuous or not. But, oh, how lovely it
is, sometimes, to have my mind settled into each moment of each asana,
rather than wondering what I’ll do next, jeez, there’s the dog at the
door wanting a walk, woops, that’s my dad on the phone, and all of that.

It’s as though, in class, they take me by the hand
and just walk me down a path through the woods. I don’t have to choose
the path or check my directions or wonder what’s ahead.  

Just
hold the hand and walk.

That sounds good to me today. How about you?

Thanks
to yoga for being so many things to so many people, and thanks to you
for the conversation.

Kristin Shepherd is a chiropractor, actor, speaker, and workshop
wonderwoman in North Bay, Ontario.  Join her at kristinshepherd.ca or on
Facebook at Dr. Kristin Shepherd.