Nike sucks, but they're right

All-or-nothing-ism is a bane.  It's the crime of my existence.  The very idea of trying to style myself in my grasping, delusional, self-sabotaging mind as an ashtanga purist, is so beyond pretentious as to be laughable.   I spent over a week in Mysore, not registering at the shala, because I was not "ready."   For those who do not have the opportunity to be here, this is no laughing matter -- I should be flogged.  Yesterday, when I finally showed up, thinking it was such a momentous occasion, Sharath said I didn't need to register -- I'm a permanent registrant.   Ha!  When the worst student in the history of Mysore doesn't  have to register, that should say something about perfectionism.  It is a wall that has to be dismantled, brick by brick.  Where to begin?  I should practice late, even in the blazing afternoon if I want, and yes, even at home.   It's better than not at all.  Practice on a full stomach, or even shit-faced.  Practice when there is not enough time.  Especially then!   I should do it when I am so wired that Í think I need to check my email, or add to my to do list, in between every half pose.  Do it like one of my former teachers does the second series, while talking on a cell phone.  If the room is not hot enough, even if icicles are forming from the a/c, I should get on the mat and stop listening to my false whining.  I have figured out that I want to practice ashtanga, and so I should do it.  We should do it if we are fat, or if we don't have the right yoga clothes.  Do each pose we are doing, regardless of the ones we think we cannot do.   Do each one we are doing as if it were the key to the universe.  If ywe can't do all of our asanas, we should try some of our yamas, or maybe our dhyana.   If there are no spaces available at the Mysore shala, do your asanas on the stage, or on the dirt in the road with the wild dogs, for Christ's sake.  Don't worry about how many of the eight limbs of ashtanga you have.  For crying out loud, do it if you have only one physical arm, or one physical leg.  SKPJ reportedly taught someone with one leg the entire primary series.  That says it all.  Fuck alignment.  All is coming, er, um, it's already here.

Comments

[CK]

well-put.

[Yogamum]

You are so right. Thanks for writing this!

[Lauren]

YAY-AH!!!!