Yesterday, while in a vinyasa class I had chosen for its likelihood of getting me sweaty, the (incredible) instructor said something that really resonated with me. She opened the class by letting us know that the afternoon’s goal would be to move toward Padmasana, or Lotus Pose.
In preparation for Lotus Pose, we did a lot (a lot) of hip work, ranging from the more expected hip openers like Ardha Kapotasana (Half Pigeon Pose) and Utahan Pristhasana (Lizard Pose) to the more intense, like some variation of Lizard Pose with which I was previously unfamiliar that involved the side of my foot and dipping my hips.
We also flirted briefly with Eka Pada Galavasana (Flying Pigeon Pose). Or, if I’m being honest, we flirted with the preparation for Flying Pigeon Pose. An advanced arm balance, Flying Pigeon Pose sits firmly outside of my wheelhouse (at this stage in my asana practice, at least) — and a quick glance around the room showed that I was not alone.
But the inability to do a full posture is no reason not to learn the proper alignment and the appropriate steps leading up to that pose, and so we all stood there, hands on blocks and feet hooked around our upper arms, awaiting further instruction. Our instructor was one of those graceful individuals who can make the most advanced postures look like a breeze, and she elegantly tipped forward and lifted herself into the air.
If you’re anything like me, attempting to balance your entire body weight on your upper arms while your face hovers inches away from the ground gives rise to a deluge of terrifying thoughts about broken noses and chipped teeth. I was tentatively testing the strength of my arms when our instructor reminded us that Flying Pigeon Pose requires courage. Until we have the courage to possibly fall on our faces, she told us, we’ll never be able to practice the pose.
It was a lightbulb moment for me. Arm balances like Flying Pigeon Pose or the more pedestrian (but still challenging) Bakasana (Crow Pose) require courage, and practicing these asanas not only strengthens the muscles used to support us in these poses, but also our metaphorical muscle of courage itself. Cultivating that courage muscle can help us feel more prepared to take risks in our everyday lives, and it is even more important for travelers like ourselves. Our adventures can lead us into any number of situations that require courage, from traveling in a region where we don’t speak the language to facing down your acrophobia to climb to the top of a temple.
So practice your arm balances. Even if the full posture is currently unattainable, work in a modified posture appropriate for your practice and get comfortable with the fear. By cultivating courage in our arm balance practices, we set ourselves up to be more courageous in our lives and other adventures.
Happy adventuring,
Katie.
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Image credit: Flying Pigeon Pose by Amy; picture from the top of Temple V at Tikal author’s own.