Reflections: Play Time
15-month of near-daily rigorous practice and what do I realize? Remixing work with play is the most important objective!
All I really want to do is have some fun! I can move from style to style, instructor to instructor… but what is most important is the playful and exploratory mindset that I (try to) maintain during practice. It is what defines 75+% of the experience. I can do the same class over and over again, 10+ times a week. It has the potential to be 100% different each time, provided I approach it with an open mind.
From Bikram to Astanga to Jivamukti… With each transition, an opening was created. My practice transformed from calisthenics to something much deeper. It is inevitable — it is difficult to resist the psychological pull once you devote enough of your physical self to it. Nowadays, my ultimate goal when I step onto my mat each day is to escape the “I know…” mindset and adopt the child-like openness that leads to the merging of work and play. I consciously shift my focus away from “am I doing this right?” and towards “is this feeling right?” I’ve come to take pleasure in not only a sweat-drenched pretzel-platter mat but also in restablishing my tadasanas and savansanas. Before you know it, practice goes from feeling like P.E. to being kickass like recess.
What would make recess even more kickass? Some badass buddies to hang from handlebars with, ofcourse! I’ve been attempting to drag my friends and family into practice recently but I really need to broaden my scope to more like the entire Bay Area! I am starting teacher training next month which will, hopefully, allow me to share this wondeful 60-90 minute daily play time with more people!
