Strength and Courage

Most of us tend to think of really big acts of bravery when we hear the word courage. Certainly, facing a major illness, dealing with loss, and facing violence or fearful situations requires courage and lots of strength. Yet, for many of us, we need to call upon our strength and resolve anytime we step out of our comfort zone to try something new. I think yoga can teach us a great deal about how to address life's uncertainties and vulnerabilities and help us find deep strength and courage within.

I was at a yoga training last week that was made up of mostly "non-yogis" as the participants. It brought me back to how hard it can be to simply try something new (especially as we get older....we get pretty set in our ways and pretty invested in looking like we are in control).  For many of the folks that were there, they had never done yoga before and you could tell that the experience was a bit intimidating for some of them. Sometimes we take for granted what we know and are comfortable doing. If you remember your very first yoga class, I'll bet it felt rather overwhelming and unfamiliar. In yoga tradition, they talk about approaching yoga practice with "a beginners mind." In other words, act as if you know nothing about yoga or how bendy you are, and just try postures and breath as if for the first time. A beginners mind can help us to be curious about what is going on, it can help us stay present (when we are learning a new skill we are focused like a laser beam, right??) and when we are simply 'beginners' we have no pre-conceived ideas about how good we should be at something and can release perfectionistic thinking.

Can it feel a bit scary to be a beginner? YES. Call upon your own internal strength, wisdom and courage to try something new or to do something in a new way. Build and strengthen your "courage" muscles both on the yoga mat and off....just as you would the muscles of your body....slowly, deliberately and consistently. Be Bold. Have strength. Practice being courageous.