Taking Flight
All ten fingers pressed into the ground
Twists and turns
Uncomfortable constriction mixed with determination to grow
Lengthen
Lighten
Breathe
A firm foundation
The only way to fly
Tag: yoga
Invisible Progress
A student walked up to me at the end of class last week and asked, “How am I doing?”
I was surprised he didn’t see the “obvious” changes over the past few months, but I shouldn’t have been. If you’re a runner and you succeed in dropping your time on a certain distance, you have a measurable way to claim success. If you melt a quarter of an inch more into your forward fold, chances are you won’t even notice.
When I was first learning how to do crow pose, I fell out of it a lot. I wobbled and tumbled and rubbed the backs of my arms and thought, “This is impossible.”
Then one day I thought really hard about pulling my navel up and in, and pressing into my whole hand, and I balanced with my feet in the air, just for a second. Maybe not even. But I balanced.
Not long after that, I was in class and the instructor, who knew I had just succeeded, asked me to be her “body” for the crow demonstration. I walked somewhat nervously to the front of the class, and followed her cues as she talked us all into crow. I balanced for a moment and then came out of it.
My confidence in crow pose skyrocketed. Since it’s often considered the gateway to other arm balances, I became curious about those, and with my new-found belief that I could do it, I practiced and eventually landed a couple more.
When students ask me how long it will take to get to a certain posture, I can only tell them it takes time, but maybe I should start saying it also takes faith. You can get there, and that belief will drive you forward and actually influence your progress. Celebrate the small victories, the nearly invisible progression. You’ll be flying before you know it. Practice and all is coming.
Surfboard Run: Day Six
The following is a recap of Day Six of our surfboard run from Houston, Texas to Sayulita, Mexico. If you missed Day Five you can catch up on that here.
Marie and I had good yoga intentions, but I was up all night with some wicked food poisoning and finally got some sleep around 6am. Marie accompanied Edgar to the beach instead while I rested. After the morning surf session we met back up for coffee at Chocobanana, a Sayulita staple. The tables were busy and a local musician entertained everyone with a few Coldplay and Pearl Jam tunes.
It was time to hit the road for the long drive home, so we returned the board Edgar had been using, back to Casa Aves. The drive back toward El Salto was peppered with multiple tolls, some official and some not, and we repeatedly dug into our cuota stash, tucked into a plastic cup in the console.
Here’s another interesting thing about the Mexican roads: vehicles pass in the middle. Really. In a lot of spots, there are two lanes, one in each direction, and huge trucks will pass in the middle. This is as normal as getting leche in your coffee. Other drivers will do their best to scoot over and let them by.
One of my favorite things to do on road trips is to try the local snacks, so wherever we stopped we purchased a few things with little knowledge as to what they were. Most were very good…. and we snacked on candy, nuts, cookies and all sorts of things as we traveled.
We weren’t sure how the timing would work out, but it ended up just perfect for us to stop by to see Kevin again, and to rent one of his big cabins, which had all the comforts of home, including a kitchen and cozy fireplace. (Cabañas “El Arroyo del Agua” on Facebook.) He helped us gather firewood and we got enough to last the night. The temperature difference between the beach in Sayulita and the air up in the mountains was dramatic. We were grateful to see a large stack of wool blankets in each room.
Once we dropped off our things, we headed into the city to find a cash machine and a restaurant. The latter was no problem, but the cash was tricky. We finally spotted an ATM but it had a line outside. Sayulita folks are used to seeing Americans, but in this town, not so much. We drew some curious looks as we waited our turn, and then again when we entered a small family restaurant for a bite. The manager or owner’s kids were all helping to wait tables while doing homework, and they kept looking over and giggling at us. I felt like we were the talk of El Salto.
Back at the cabin we settled in to do our own giggling at an Adam Sandler movie dubbed over in Spanish, and eventually turned in.
On day seven, it was time for the feats of strength! Who among us would be brave enough to try the bridge made of rope, and would they make it to the other side?
Surfboard Run: Day Five
This is a recap of day five of our surfboard run from Houston, Texas to Sayulita, Mexico. If you missed day four, you can catch up here.
Day five began with leftover pizza for breakfast. We made quick work of that and made tracks for the beach. Edgar surfed the Sayulita break while I practiced yoga. I played around with handstands against a mural wall, and toyed with foot placement and shoulder activation. Our morning exercise complete, we walked a few streets into town and got coffee at a new place. New businesses are popping up all over town… restaurants, coffee shops, yoga studios and B & Bs. While we were walking around and taking note of the new spots, we found a barbershop, and Edgar decided to get a hair cut.
Not long after the scissors came out, another man came into the shop and had a heated discussion with the barber. He then went to a work station and began to pick up products and tools and put them in a bag. The barber working on Edgar’s hair didn’t seem to like that, and some more angry words and gestures were exchanged. Then the barber opened up the angry guy’s bag, and took some of the product back out, clearly claiming it belonged to the shop. Things were beginning to get uncomfortable so Edgar spoke up and asked if they could possibly settle the matter later, perhaps when scissors and razors were not so close at hand. They agreed and the angry guy left, and Edgar got a nice haircut. A boy of about eight came into the shop while we were there. He had a little money — it appeared he’d made it selling trinkets in the square. Edgar and the barber agreed to split the cost of his cut so he could keep his earnings.
Another one of the new shops is a little less formal, but a lot more tasty. This guy set up a candy store just off one of the main streets. We struck up a conversation to see what he had, and he offered some free samples of the candied nuts. We purchased several varieties to take with us as snacks for the ride to the airport. Edgar’s youngest daughter Marie was making the drive back with us, and we needed to fetch her from Puerto Vallarta.
We had to again switch hotels, since they were out of rooms, and we moved into a place just a five minute walk away. We didn’t have a bunch of time, so I walked across the street to get fish tacos, while Edgar got our stuff to the rooms.
You can’t drive past a surf break without at least having a look, so we took the scenic route toward the airport and stopped by Punta Mita. There wasn’t much to it so we kept on.
We also had another mission in mind. Casa Aves has had a table and chairs outside on the bodega since we’ve owned it, but the seats just aren’t comfortable. Several furniture stores line the way to the airport and we stopped at a handful, but didn’t see exactly what we wanted… at least, not for a good price.
The PV airport stays pretty busy, so we camped out in the stream of arrivals and kept a keen eye out for Marie. At only 18 years old, she’s already well-traveled and quite accustomed to this particular route. While we were keeping our eyes peeled for her, a familiar face appeared. Our friend and sometimes driver, Espie, was at the airport and we chatted for a moment about family, business and how things were going for him in general. Seeing people you know at an airport in Mexico, reminds us of how small the world is, and how much this section of it feels more and more like home.
After we grabbed Marie, we headed back to Sayulita and went for another stroll on the beach. There are always vendors walking up and down the beach and offering something. This time we ran into a guy selling Mexican blankets. We had seen them before, but this guy quoted a price we couldn’t pass up, and we wound up with a really nice blanket.
On our way back through the square we saw a group of little boys skateboarding, and showing off their tricks. We watched for a while and then Edgar asked if he could have a turn. They thought that was kinda funny but gave him a board. He skated for a bit and then said, “Wow! Why are your wheels and trucks so loose?”
“Because we’re surfers,” came the reply.
We had agreed to meet up with our house host for dinner. A local artist, who came to Sayulita by way of Italy, stays at Casa Aves year-round, keeps the house nice and is a great resource for guests. We met at Don Juan’s just up the street from Aves and shared a meal and good conversation. After dinner we went for another walk, and then turned in for the night. One of us planned to surf in the morning, while the other two had their eyes on a yoga class.
Effort and Ease
I’m teaching at a new gym, and sometimes potential students ask me if the yoga classes I teach are hard. That’s a difficult question to answer.
Depending on your flexibility, and the way your body is structured, some poses that are hard for me, will be easy for you, and vice versa. There’s no set level of difficulty in any given posture.
To add to the complication, some poses that look cool in photos, aren’t typically all that “hard”. Take 8-angle for example. You’ll see a lot of yogis using this one in profile pictures and such, because it looks really cool. But if you have the flexibility it takes for the first step of the pose, the rest of the journey there is pretty easy.
Baby grasshopper is another one. The tricky part is grabbing your extended leg. If you’ve got that part down, you just have to shift your weight on to your planted foot and… voila!
Meanwhile, poses like happy baby, that don’t really…. uh… photograph all that well, can be really really hard. I inserted this pose into a sequence for a long hold recently, and had second thoughts when I was rehearsing it myself. I decided to leave it in, but made sure to give students the option of coming out of it mid-way through the set time. It’s no joke.
Other poses are “hard” for other reasons… especially if you’re someone with a long to-do list, that’s not getting “ta-done” while you’re on your mat. It can be hard to sink into child’s pose, or surrender to savasana if your mind won’t slow down. I struggle with this, and tend to give myself permission to think these thoughts when they come at me for three breaths. The idea stays for three long breaths in and out, and on the third one I exhale it away.
Ease and effort …. effort and ease. There’s room in everyone’s practice for both, but only you can decide where you find it.
Your Next Adventure
We’re taking a look at some of our favorite photos over the past few months. What’s in store for your next adventure? Whether you’re going across town or across the country, share it with us in the comments.
Cracking Up in Toe Stand
When people think about yoga, they usually think about flexibility, strength or peace… maybe a calmness and an attention to the breath. And they would be right — yoga is all of that and more. But what people don’t often talk about is the laughter.
Yes, you can laugh during yoga. Some of my favorite teachers make me laugh on a regular basis, and it’s part of the reason I keep coming back. Trying a new pose can be challenging, and laughter is one way to shake off the nerves. If you’ve ever tried an acro yoga class, then you know there are roars of laughter shaking the room, as partners pair up and put feet into backs and flyers wiggle and wobble, and things don’t turn out exactly as you envision at all. 
Heart-opening poses might make you tear up, but they also might make you smile, wondering if you’re leaning into it a little too much… and feeling your fingers sliding off their grip.
Directions to look your friend in the eyes, or even meeting a gaze of a fellow yogi in the mirror, might spark snickers…even if you can’t pinpoint the reason for it, and think it would be more zen of you to hold it in.
Keep in mind that a good belly laugh is great for the soul, and the abs. We’re all human and we’re all imperfect and on a unique journey that asks us to be vulnerable and authentic. We’re asking our bodies to move into strange positions, and to breathe into impossible places, and there’s no law that says we always have to take it so, so seriously.
So the next time something awkward or silly happens in class, don’t feel guilty if a chuckle rises up in your throat. Don’t swallow the laughter. Be real. And if you want to feel supported, feel free to look over at me. I’ll be the one giggling in savasanah and losing it in toe stand. (Thankfully, my friend Sarah is of the same mind, and we laughed our faces off during this shoot.)
The Beauty of You
For July fourth, TSY recognizes that freedom comes in many forms, and one of them is movement.
Our friend Irene is sharing this flow, and one of her favorite quotes. For more videos showcasing Irene’s strength training and yoga tutorials, check her out on Instagram @Irene.Namuli.
“The beauty of you is not where you are perfect; it’s where you are fearless.”
-Cleo Wade
Press In
When my friend Sarah came to visit a while back, we decided to have some fun with a yoga photo shoot. We researched some poses that might look visually interesting in tandem, and one of them was two yogis in wheel, each with one leg extended. We both liked the look of the pose, but when it came time to try it out, we both said the same thing, “I’m not sure I can do that.”
We got into place, first in wheel with our feet toward each other. We each took a deep breath and lifted one leg. It was difficult, and we both struggled, until our feet touched. Heel to heel and toe to toe, the pose became less of a struggle. We felt supported, and strengthened by the contact. We stayed in the pose much easier in tandem than we could have solo.
Finding community as adults can be a challenge. We often feel a little wobbly, reaching out, only to flounder for something solid. It may seem like forever, but before we fall, God steps in to put people in our lives who, at that moment, also have a limb extended. We lean in, meet in the middle, make contact and support one another. Heel to heel. Toe to toe. We press in, breathe deeply, and each journey becomes a little easier.
Loving the Journey
TSY is always looking for people who want to share their adventures, yoga practice or surf sessions with us. We ran across Kim’s photos and enjoy what she has to say about yoga’s benefits for the mind and body. If you want to see more gorgeous pictures, check out her teaching schedule or just find out how she feels about non-dairy ice cream, head on over to Kim’s site.
“Practicing self-love daily is the key to happiness and success; when you love yourself and your journey, you cannot fail.”
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