Boulder, CO
One of my friends who loves practicing yoga related an experience that is a little zen poem.
She was in an early morning class and the instructor was introducing a new and challenging posture. After demonstrating the move, the class struggled as they tried to move into the new position. Limbs shook, muscles quivered, joints strained as the class tried and tried. The instructor gave small corrections to help each member of the class into the position insofar as the limitations of their bodies would allow. Satisfied, the instructor added in a quiet voice to the entire class, “Now, imagine replacing effort with awareness.”
Awareness of your body as it is, in the present moment, without judgment or evaluation.
When I was a lad, my stern father would see me struggling with something and bark, “Relax!” Of course I never could. Now I’ll change my ego’s command into a soft voice that says, “Now, imagine replacing effort with awareness.”
Got it?