“Penetration of our mind is our goal, but in the beginning to set things in motion, there is no substitute for sweat.” - B.K.S. Iyengar.
Like most things in life, yoga asana takes work and it takes practice. As I come into a new and challenging pose, I shake-sweat-stumble-and fall. This struggle is the process; it is the work I must put in to deepen my asanas and to practice discipline. When I struggle and fall I have a choice: do I give up this new pose or do I get back up and try again? Typically I giggle so hard that my nose wrinkles and I try and try again. Yet in American culture I often feel the constant push to "go hard or go home" - to competitively move through pain as if pausing is a sign of weakness. Where is the balance between working to grow and working so hard that it's hurtful?
There are times when my body isn't ready for a posture. In fact, most of my injuries have come from pushing through pain, a clear signal that my body sends to tell me that it isn't ready for a pose. Because of these injuries I've learned to ask myself, "What does my body (and mind) need in THIS moment? Where is the balance between effort and sweat versus pushing too hard? By asking these questions I create space to practice self-kindness...permission to modify a shape or even to wait a few weeks-years before trying the pose again. Truthfully there are some days when child's pose is my work; choosing to take a break and pause is the work in and of itself. Remembering to listen to my body is a continual pursuit of awareness. Last weekend I was reminded of this need for awareness as I ran so hard I nearly passed out from heat exhaustion. Today, before I ran, I decided that the moment I started wheezing (I have asthma), I would pause to walk. Even though my run took longer this morning, I safely completed 5 miles without any scary moments of blacking out. By staying aware I was able to find the balance between work and sweat without over-doing it.