We’ve all heard the old adage: if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. This is as true in life as in yoga. Practice when we aren’t perfect is the key to success. But even more important than success is to have fun while we practice. When we smile and giggle a little at ourselves, we can be less serious and simply experience the joy of moving our bodies.
Everyone is challenged by different poses in yoga. One person’s easy Pigeon Pose is another person’s albatross. The point is to find your edge, and go there with curiosity and playfulness. When you practice, you stretch and grow. Making it a chore or approaching it with too much seriousness can not only negatively affect your desire to practice, it could derail you and thwart your growth. Fall down, laugh, get back up. Savor the process.
In this video I practice Bird of Paradise Pose (Svarga Dvidasana) on the beach. I fall down and get back up more than a few times. To try this usually elegant balancing pose, begin in Warrior 2. Reach inside and under your bent leg with your front arm, then reach the other arm behind you and clasp hands. Step your back foot forward into a squat and shift your weight to it. Breathe in and focus on one point. Breathe out and slowly stand up. Straighten your bound leg slowly like an opening flower. Balance & breathe. See if you can come out of the pose the same way you came in. Be sure to practice on both sides.
Happy Practicing! Namaste.
Video of Yoga Teddy Bear creator K. Mae Copham at Fire Island Pines by Robin Rice 2018. Bird of Paradise Pose coloring page from Yoga Teddy Bear & Friends Coloring Book. Get your coloring books, Yoga Teddy Bear swag and special offers here!
