The OutSPOKEn Cyclist
By Diane Jenks
We all have them – or at least we think we do! Those moments when something you’ve thought about, known about, or even just wondered about suddenly becomes clear in a whole different way.
Case in point — as I was getting back to my weekly workouts after a several-week lull (for one crazy reason after another,) I suddenly understood why my yoga students want to practice with me instead of developing a home practice on their own. As my personal trainer and I were finishing up with some end-of-session stretches, I
realized that I wouldn’t even consider trying to put this strength and weight workout together on my own.
I also realized that it isn’t just a lack of discipline, but rather the lack of skill and training in creating the sequencing of the session and the expertise to explain the how as well as to correct anything that might lead to injury. I saw clearly that I wouldn’t pick up those weights or try to remember the individual exercises, if not for the trainer leading and encouraging me each step of the way.
Which brings me back to my yoga practice and some thoughts I’ve had recently, leading to yet another ah-ha moment.
I begin each practice the same way – every time. And from that beginning point where we are still and silent, clearing our minds, and setting an intention for the session, we begin our movements. Each practice follows a pattern – one that my regular students know and that new students can easily follow. That has led me to thinking about whether my students are bored with the practice or want more variety, whether they are tired of the routine or perhaps me as their teacher. This isn’t a new thought; I come back to it quite often. And yet, I find that my students, many of whom have been practicing with me for years, keep coming back and keep finding their practices satisfying.
And so, the ah-ha moment this week with my trainer led me to realizing that my students expect a dependable routine, regardless of the subtle varieties within it — a routine they can follow and explore in their own ways.
Perhaps when you least expect it, something will trigger an ah-ha moment for you. You might be making dinner or walking your dog. You might be reading a book or just listening to the rain outside your window.
I think the key to “tuning in” to those moments is to take the time to pause and just listen, follow your intuition, and let the discovery come to you.
For now at least, I expect I will go back to my mat with a renewed confidence.
