Yoga Journal: Embrace the Negative
The intention for hot yoga practice was embracing the negative. This doesn’t mean to encourage it or engage in negative thinking, as you may expect. By embracing the negative on the mat, you would lower from high plank to low plank (chattarunga) in slow, controlled movements to grow stronger in your practice. To hold poses even when you’re slightly uncomfortable, because this is how you get to the next level. Imagine you are sending all negativity down as you push against the floor, and leaving it there as you push to upward facing dog. By leaving the negativity in the floor, you can go about your life lighter and unburdened.
By putting focus on the negative, you acknowledge it and make space to grow stronger and more flexible. This applies in yoga and in our daily lives. If you are having a hard time, remember it’s your practice, your life, slow down to collect yourself, modify or take a short break then continue with the flow, don’t quit. You learn about what you are made of during the hardships, it’s part of who you are today, embrace the lessons.
At the end of our practice, the yoga teacher invited us to dedicate the last 3 breaths to someone having a hard time. I chose you, because you are in the thick of your lesson and when you emerge from your cocoon, you will be this beautiful butterfly.
With each intention and each practice, I have been growing as a person; questioning, reflecting, letting go, and healing. I share my thoughts and yoga journal with you, in hopes that it helps you on your journey. I invite you to comment on how you deal with the negatives, how have you grown from them? How do you acknowledge and let it go?
Tech use to create this post:
- Written in Evernote on the iPhone using Google keyboard
- Image created in Photofy, using stock photo search term “negative space”
- Edited on the computer
- Posted using WordPress app for iPhone
What are your thoughts?