IF YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU DO. DO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.
Tuesday, September 30th, 2014I spend some of my study time reading a series of books of interviews with BKS Iyengar. whether it’s a sentence, a paragraph, or a chapter, it is an instant source of inspiration for me. His medical successes, his approache (against all odds) in the medical world, his constant faith in his study of yoga in therapeutic ways.
As one who has studied yoga for over 40 years, reality hits us to remove the myths of endless, ageless flexibility and a pain free life. Our lives as practitioners are devoted to teaching as well as our own practice, but we cannot ignore the day to day endless driving to and from clients, clenching at traffic slowing us down, or just lounging on the couch at the end of the day. Having to take care of life definitely gets in the way of a free flowing yoga life, even though that is life.
At times I am set back against the wall with some new pain or mishap in my body. For some of that time, initially I think of what I may have done to create it and at the same time what I can do to erase it. I usually find the grace of compassion for my students who struggle with limitations that up till now were never in my vocabulary.
Iyengar offers an expression of his experience of yoga that includes a magic that speaks to my inner yogi.
I teach in a way of offering my own experience. I don’t make things up that I haven’t found to benefit my own life. I can’t say that I have a specific style other then it is simply an extension of what has felt good to me. And has worked for me. I BELIEVE IN WHAT I DO. After all of this time, even if I have a setback, I think I’m doing well. I hope that my being inspires others to embrace yoga for some of the reasons I did early on.
When those times challenge me I remind myself… If I believe In what I do, I might then, do what I believe in. Practice what I preach, even in the midst of self doubt, I push through perhaps in ways that onlookers would be shaking their heads. But so far I have been successful.
How many Psychotherapists, Doctors, or choose any profession of givers, are stumped as to how to help themselves. If you believe in what you do, turn it back on yourself and Do what you believe in… if the results are good then you can be confident that you are truly helping others.