Be Picky about your Practice

I recently took a basic yoga class and I could not do all the poses. This was surprising, and somewhat horrifying, because I USED TO BE ABLE to do these poses.

Mr. Iyengar would say that a lot of the work in yoga is not pursuing the fancy pants things you see on Instagram, but doing the “donkey work” over and over again, like the laborious and inglorious life of a pack mule.

I enjoy practicing this way. I love my daily routine of a few dogs, up and down, quads and hamstring stretches, then busting out a big move on a blue moon. It has worked for me, until it did not. I recently realized that my twists were in the metaphorical toilet.

So, what have I been doing wrong? I was not being picky about my practice. If I’m honest, I was just kind of putzing around.

Recently, I gave up my ambassadorship for a yoga chain not because of any drama (I will love CorePower until the day I die), but because after a 15-year relationship it’s time for everyone to find fresh trails. Me included.

Now that I have to pay for yoga, a funny thing has happened. I have become discerning. I am not Demi Moore, who once said she spent five hours a day exercising. I have limited time and a limited budget.

I know for a fact that this is the case for most yoga teachers. “I’m just not used to paying for yoga,” they will say upon checking in to a class. And yet, we hope students will pay for ours.  More importantly, perhaps the spending of time and money, which could be seen as energy, life force or Prana, should be directed to our most meaningful development. Make it count.

In my search for inspiration, I have found an astonishing number of fresh voices and new approaches. Some are local, and some are on the internet. It’s been a joy to connect with Ross Rayburn again, even if it’s only on an app.

I urge you in the new year to try new things. Try it all. It may be donkey work, but no two donkeys are the same. In fact, one might turn out to be a unicorn in disguise.

Michelle Marchildon is the Yogi Muse. She is the author of four books on yoga, including most recently “Theme Weaver: A Companion Workbook to Plan Yoga Classes.”