“We are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves and feel free as birds. We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil. Serenity is contagious. If we smile at someone, he or she will smile back. And a smile costs nothing. We should plague everyone with joy. If we are to die in a minute, why not die happily, laughing? (136-137)”
― Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras
Today I was sitting besides Lillian as Jess taught us on how to attempt Pincha Mayurasana.
Neither that I had the experience to hold a Ardha Pincha Mayurasana for than 5 seconds nor I had attempted to do Pincha Mayurasana on the wall. Surprisingly, hardly any effort at the first attempt, I managed to lift myself up against the wall. Inside myself I was not quite sure how I managed to do it. When I was preparing to take off from the mat, I heard a voice from one year ago….
“Press your hands against the floor, eyes gaze between palms. Slowly walk your legs towards your chest until you feel the legs are weightless, then squeeze in your muladhara and slowly lift yourself up against the floor.”
That was Jess teaching me headstand one year ago when both of us were students.:)
Fast forward 1 year 8 months later,as I was doing a wall assisted Pincha Mayurasana and somehow my brain decided to retrieve the memory of instructions from one year ago. Lillian asked me how do I lift myself so gently? I simply shared my experience with her and after that she pulled it off gracefully☺️. Better than me I would said.
There were some attempts that I failed to execute the pose due to fatigue but sometimes I could pull it off.
But I found myself soaked with immense joy when my fellow friend can do the pose after I shared the method. It brought my memory back to the first class when Jess shared some quotes from Bhagavad Gita.
“Yoga is knowing that all things are connected and we are all connected.”
”Being surrounded by fellow Yoga practitioners to be nourished with love.”
I felt that way today. Even though most days I feel like I’m dugong.
But today inside my mind, I see a mermaid. A state of mind.
Allow me to quote my fellow classmate, Lindy’s verbatim, “Hopefully we’ll all find our special style in teaching and be fabulous like this special mermaid we know :)”
(6/6-Completed)
Wendy Loh 200 hour Hatha Vinyasa YTT Course(28 Sept-30 Oct 15)
