A new yoga pose, a new meaning

I have been doing yoga for nearly 7 years. It is something I always look forward to, especially when there are somethings on my mind.

While in Japan, I have been out of practice for a while because like many things, it's a hassle to do it without being fluent in the language, plus it's almost twice the price here for a yoga lesson (granted the studio is fully equipped with showers, towels, blow dryers...like a locker room at a spa. Yes, Chris, it's 5x better than Ace Hotel). But I was craving for it. Practicing on my own at home (something I am very inconsistent at and it includes rolling around, bending myself in unattractive poses for fun) it's nothing like going to a class. Anyway, I finally found the motivation to go to class on Monday and was surprised to learn a new pose - a variation of Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, one-legged pigeon.

At first, I couldn't do it on my own. I didn't quite know where to bend and how to reach my arms around my feet. It looked simple enough but I knew it was a big stretch. My teacher immediately saw my struggle, sat intimately closed to me with the posture I was supposed to have and gently but firmly (yoga teachers have the amazing ability to be gentle but strong at the same time) bend my right leg high enough to reach my right arm. Within seconds, I was locked into the position. She then sat behind me to regulate my breathing and deepen my breathe. Though the pose only lasted for another minute, it was the most fantastic 1 minute of the entire 1.5 hours yoga class. I knew the pose was perfect. After that, we switched. I was able to do the other side on my own but when I returned home that night, I ungracefully struggled into the pose. Though I finally managed to get into it, I couldn't hold it very long and my breathing was all over the place. It was definitely far less than perfect. So tonight as I was biking home, I thought about what happened and how my students may also be struggling to master what English they were able to communicate in class as compared to their success on their own. I want to know how I can help them improve and motivate to continue what they can achieve. I want everyone of them to come away with a meaningful learning - something they can think about from various angles and perspectives of their lives, like this new yoga pose I have just encountered, thanks to an attentive yoga teacher. Om......