WoYoPracMo | Not Really What I Had Planned

I had planned to kick off 2008 and WoYoPracMo by showing up at the new kundalini class that was supposed to start 1st January. I thought: new year, new yoga class, new teacher – great start. As it turns out, kundalini class was postponed.

And I'm having my period.

(I promise this will not be an in-depth discussion of my menstrual cycles.)

I usually take a break from practice when I have my period, especially during the heavier first few days. But on the 1st of January I was a little upset – because I had made a commitment to practice for 30 days. Am I going to break this commitment on the very first day?

Later the irony of the situation hit me (I am an ironic sort of person): how we can plan all we want in life, but nature always takes its own course. So I thought about what I could do that is yoga, but not vigorous.

So for the first day of WoYoPracMo I just sat on my mat and did my meditation and pranayama – something I have often neglected in my usual practice. As I was meditating I recalled the lovingkindness meditation a Buddhist teacher taught me a while back. I called up the faces of my colleagues, friends and family and for each of them, I sent them lovingkindness. For all the wrongs I have done them, whether knowingly or unknowingly, I asked for their forgiveness. Then I offer forgiveness in return.

It didn't feel like such a bad first day. Certainly it wasn't what I had planned, but this spontaneous Plan B felt right. This too, is yoga.

Anyway, I was back at the yoga studio the next day for Hot Flow. I've also drawn out a series of regular morning poses I intend to practice to strengthen my core. I extracted them from a series of core-work recommended by Ana Forrest – who totally inspires me with her strength and grace.

I'm still a beginner, still have lots and lots to learn. Because I am arrogant, I actually enjoy the humbling aspects of my own yoga practice – how it feels okay not to have to pretend to know everything all the time.