I have to admit that I've never really understood why many of my super packed classes make people anxious. What's the big deal? Until it happens to me. Tonight's 7:30pm Bikram Yoga class on Day 18 of The Challenge. My original plan was to go to the 2pm class but decided against that as I had just given every last ounce of energy in my 12:30pm Cycling class and needed an afternoon break before the yoga. In all honesty, teaching packed classes works for me. Lots of energy. I LOVE a packed class!
In a Bikram Yoga situation...not so much. Sweaty people TOOCLOSETOME is making me very anxious. But then I remember that I have a game plan tonight. There are many things I can't control and this would be another one of them. I am going to get back to my original mindset and use this opportunity to be super focused and disciplined in my practice tonight. As close to zero distractions as I can with minimal wiping, water breaks, fixing my mat. Whatever. Tonight is the time to practice self control. What better way to do that than in a room full of sweaty people packed together like sardines?
And so class begins and I let nothing distract me from my focus on me, the breath, the instructor and the practice. For the first time ever, I only take one water break during the first hour of class. In the interest of full disclosure, I have done what I should today. I have properly hydrated all day long which cuts down the need for the extra water. But more importantly, I decide that I am not going to use the water as a way to disconnect from the practice. I do not fidget. I do not fix my mat even though it's wrinkling and it's kind of driving my idea of order crazy. I simply let it go.
Everything is working for me and then we're on the ground for the floor sequence which is the last 30 minutes of the 90 minute class. Suddenly the girl to my right who is THISCLOSETOME keeps looking the wrong way and directly at me. She's driving me crazeee! After a mini internal meltdown, I ignore her and realize that
I need to get back to myself and my practice. And back I am. I finish class feeling the best ever!!!!
The instructor Georgia and I are talking after class. She points out to me that packed classes are actually better for your yoga practice because it teaches you focus. She says that when there are so many people in a class, it cuts down on one's need to look around and become easily distracted. You have to limit your field of vision. This is why I LOVE LOVE LOVE Georgia! Right she is!
It is in fact easier to focus internally when we are forced into a scenario where we have no choice. More importantly, however, is that it teaches me that when there's chaos in my real world I need to do the same! Focus. Internalize. Connect To Self and Breath. It doesn't make me want to go back to a super crowded class anytime soon. But now I need to see if I can bring that same level of focus and discipline to my next class. Stay tuned!
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