HALF MOON FALLING

Isn't this beautiful?  This is Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose).  It looks deceptively easy.  To do it this beautifully, however, requires strength, balance and perfect alignment…. as well as a flattish rock and a lovely moonrise ocean view.

I always say a silent mantra/prayer before stepping on my mat, asking for my Higher Power (haha…my finger just slipped and I typed "Higher Poser"!!!) to be with me, to let go of Ego, to be Present with only my own practice in that moment of that day.   It works.  I am always present, or can get back to presence fairly easily.  That doesn't mean I don't smile and laugh during class -- for laughter is certainly part of my practice.

So, maybe it was the setting that interfered with my pulling this asana off to perfection in Yoga class last week.  After all, it was mid-morning, no moon in sight and miles from the shoreline.  Actually, I've done this pose before -- at the wall, with props, without.  It's always a challenge, but usually doable.  So, maybe it was because last Friday's class was rather emotionally-laden, since it was the last session with us for one of our sweet regular teachers before her year-long sabbatical; we were all sort of weepy and happy and sad.  Maybe I got distracted by trying to "please" her. Half Moon Pose is a favorite of hers.

Whatever was going on, I moved into the pose on one side, with a bit of help on my alignment, and felt pretty awesome!  Then I switched to the other side, and, and, and…..

Came crashing down.  I fell out of the pose, tried to catch myself, and realized I was on the floor sort of rolling in a ball of protruding limbs toward a classmate.  It all happened so fast…

This was my mind not remaining calm:

"Oh shit!"
"I'm gonna knock Sue over!"
 (Flash to image of a domino-effect knock down of every Yogi on my side of the room.)
"I'm not hurt."
"For toppling, I'm pretty graceful."
"That sucked."
"That was hilarious."

I looked sort of like this,  maybe, just before the tumble.  Note contrast in alignment from photo above:

Our teacher asked if I was OK.  I answered that I was.  She wondered aloud what it felt like to fall out of my pose.  (Teaching moment!)

I replied, that I was immediately aware that I was not going to get hurt and hoped I wouldn't hurt anyone else.  And then I said the very next thing that popped into my mind:

"It reminded me of how hard it is to find balance in my everyday life.  It reminded me again that Yoga is just like life."

And that's why I love my practice.  Boom!  Yoga is JUST LIKE LIFE!  It's a place to be just as I am; a place to push just a bit to the edge of my limit; to try and sometimes not succeed; to try and then to back off; to try again and again, or not.  Sometimes it's a place to rest and bask in ease.  It's a place of support and encouragement and sometimes a celebration of euphoric accomplishment.  It's also a place of practicing gentle forgiveness and acceptance when I strive and cling, rather than just "be".

Yoga is the teacher.  The student just needs to show up.

At least, that's the view from here…. ©

(Ready to try?)  http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/2327