Honoring your heart takes courage.  Whether that means sharing your truth in the face of a loved one’s discomfort, or holding strong when the wave of a deep hip opener surges your body with emotion…listening to this internal guru can only lead to good things.

Asana Practice: Today my practice was lethargic and my mood a tad heavy.  It was dark and bleak outside and I miss my friends and home as I prepare to set off on a long voyage.

I started my asana practice on the ground in child’s pose, forehead resting on the ground. I built my energy and strength up a little at a time, giving myself ample time in postures close to the ground.

After about twenty minutes of indulging in this deep watery current, I decided it was time to build my momentum and embrace a more positive side of my self.  Having started my practice in deep, low-to-the-ground poses, and finding my inner strength to work through heavy emotion, I found myself perfectly prepped for  Hanumanasana.  I consider Hanuman to be a perfect balance between action and surrender.  I am still several months from reaching the ground in this pose, but for the first time in my life it feels like a real possibility.  In May of this past month there were several feet between my pelvis and the ground, now I range from 2-6 inches depending on the day.

I made a promise to myself a few months ago that I would no longer shy away from things I found difficult.  My heart told me that it was time to embrace my weaknesses and shine some light on them.  One of these weaknesses includes poses like Hanuman.

Lesson Learned: Setting an intention to work on a pose I found nearly impossible has been a lovely learning experience and allowed my heart to soften in the face of discomfort.  I’m learning to trust that anything is possible and even when the goal seems far beyond the horizon, if you set your bow in the right direction, one day you will reach shore…or at the very least you will learn to enjoy the journey.

• buddhism
• childs pose
• hanuman
• hanumanasana