Magic Yoga Pants

We just wrapped up the second part of the Anusara Immersion, the sixth weekend of nine in our deeper exploration into the Anusara system. The Immersion has been a great experience. We’ve received inspiring and detailed instruction from Christina which has increased my understanding of the principles that inform our method. I am excited because things are starting to click in meaningful ways.

Along with that, my friendships with those who practice with me have grown deeper — from great talks during breaks to great shopping from car trunks! Today Zoe had beautiful shawls and fun purses, Jenn had handmade jewelry (that I missed out on) and my friend, Michelle, who owns the Yoga Studio of Corpus Christi, brought up a trunk full of clothes from her studio. I got a fabulous pair of new pants and matching top. I really love these pants, and I promptly put them on.

Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer.

~Author Unknown

Today we worked a lot with thigh bones back. Let me just say, mine truly like to lead the way so this has been a challenge. But today, in my NEW GREEN PANTS, I felt something different start to happen. I GLIMPSED thigh bones back in parsvakonasana. Lots of work for sure — I even had to sweat — but I experienced the freedom that comes when the thighs move into the back plane. (I suppose it is not without coincidence that the symbol on the back of my pants is FREEDOM.)

Freedom comes with shins in, my NEW pants and a little help from Christina

I also briefly accessed tucking my tail bone withOUT tucking the whole pelvis into my typical retroversion pattern AND keeping my thighs back! Perhaps those “things that are starting to click” are REALLY my femurs moving into their hip sockets! Did I mention I love the pants?!

I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.

~Author Unknown

There’s a wonderful children’s story about a little girl preparing for a ballet recital. She lacked confidence and stumbled about until she was presented with a “magical” pair of ballet slippers. She was told that with the shoes on, she would be able to dance beautifully. And so she did. It came time for the recital and she panicked because she couldn’t find her slippers. It was then that she learned that the shoes had no magical powers; they just gave her the confidence to do what she knew how to do. And she was able to go on stage and perform flawlessly. She was exuberant!

There have many times when I have struggled to understand and implement the principles of Anusara in my practice, and I’ve doubted my ability to EVER do it. I am certainly a long way from a flawless parsvakonasana but the jubilation I experienced in those brief moments when my thighs MOVED back is right up there with that little ballerina.

“It’s gonna be brutal, but it’s worth it!”

Pamela

The Parking Lot “Pushers” of Clothes & Accessories: Zoe & Michelle

Root to Rise

Partner Work: Jeff & Anne