I've been thinking about this all week. The concept of Yin Yang. Not so much the Western definition of Yin and Yang. But the traditional Taoist philosophy. One of the definitions I like of Yin Yang defines the principle as "complementary opposites that interact within a greater whole, as part of a dynamic system." For example, you cannot have the back of a hand without the front.
21 days in a Bikram Yoga room and I am struck by the complimentary opposite of Yoga practice. They say that everything has both Yin and Yang aspects. Light cannot exist without darkness. Pleasure cannot exist without pain. Enlightenment cannot exist without suffering. The more time I spend on the Yoga mat, I'm beginning to see that when I hit a "peak" in my practice that the natural order is for there to be the necessary "valley".
A few days in the valley though leads me to another peak tonight on Day 21. This day is made sweeter by the hours of sweat I have put in on the mat. I am learning so much about myself with each passing class that it's almost too much to articulate. It is a bit overwhelming.
Struggle does lead to progress and the progress feels awesome tonight. There is no better feeling in the world that knowing that you are aligned with who you really are. In the hot room on this particular night, it is as good as it gets. 21 days of highs and lows that produce this day of calmness and beauty. The real progress though is the recognition that the days this week when I was struggling were equally as beautiful. Because both Yin and Yang are equal. Understanding that makes it so much easier.
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