On Sundays, my yoga studio offers no classes, so I found myself “taking class” with Darren Rhodes this past weekend via YogaGlo. He opened the class by talking about how one can sometimes find themselves bored with a sequence or posture after doing it over and over again…especially after many years of engaging in the asana practice. To counter that, he suggests, one should approach each pose – especially the “boring” ones – as though it is the first time they are ever encountering it to assess what changes and what new things are learned.
I tried this technique when approaching Tadasana (Mountain Pose) in my classes yesterday. It was invigorating. I felt my feet grounded like never before, my chest contained and my core engaged. I reached to the sky with newfound introspection and admiration for this stabilizing and central posture that is so integral to the asana practice. I could feel my roots connecting to the earth and discovered myself thinking about my relationships to my ancestors and the environment around me each time I stood at the top of my mat.
What are those poses you wish to rediscover? What new approaches have you been taking in your practice to keep it fresh and invigorating?
For more about Tadasana, check out Yoga Journal.
