Lesson 107 - Q&A – Self-pacing in postures and practices

From: Yogani
Date: Thu Feb 5, 2004 11:47am

New Members: It is recommended you read from the beginning of the web
archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first
lesson is, "Why This Discussion?"

Q: I have been 'dabbling' (sometimes alot, sometimes little) in
ashtanga yoga for 5.5 yrs and my yoga has helped me with the
breathing and mulabandha (ashtanga very enjoyable- even for a xc
skier/triathlete who is not too flexible) and recently I was in a car
accident that has strained my wrist. Do you have any suggestions on
how I could modify sun salutations and vinyasas to most effectively
continue my practice, as I had just started to get on a roll again
before the car crash?

A: For sun salutation, asanas, and, in fact, all yoga practices, the
first rule is to never force, and always use gentle persuasion. If
there is some stiffness, injury, or discomfort, then we just go to
our natural limit and test it a little. Never to the point of pain or
strain. Just to the point of the limit of movement, and then be there
for the time of our posture. This may be nowhere near the full
posture, which is perfectly fine. We do what we can comfortably in
the direction of the posture without strain, knowing we will be doing
gradually more in subsequent sessions. If any degree of stretch
becomes uncomfortable, we back off to a comfortable level. Or, if it
can go a little further without strain, then we let it. This is what
we have talked about many times as we go through advanced yoga
practices. It is the principle of "self-pacing." It is the fine art
of progressing in yoga -- never forcing, always using gentle
persuasion. With this approach, the body and nervous system slowly
but surely move to more flexibility, purification, and greater
experiences of inner peace and bliss.

There is the old saying, "By the yard, life is hard. By the inch,
it's a cinch."

It is easy to become advanced in yoga if we know how to handle self-
pacing.

The guru is in you.

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