Last night’s Yoga class was mostly intense stretching. Sometimes, I am overcome by the sheer joy I feel from a good stretch. It’s like a huge, deep, body breath—the muscles and bones, yes, but also something deeper. I feel a huge sigh with each stretch. It’s almost the same kind of sigh I feel when I’m in the writing zone—especially writing fiction. I’m aware of the blessings of doing what I love, reaching inside, pulling out stories, characters. Creating. When I think about it, where I am now has come from a long stretch—from nonfiction to fiction. So, while I’m stretching my arms, legs, hips, back, shoulders, I see with clarity that I’m also stretching my life and my writing. It is a good thing, this stretching business. We all need more of it, don’t we?
I was just reading this passage to my class last night: When you stretch, you don’t make it happen by trying harder.You must let go and let gravity do its work.You give permission, opening yourself to another, greater force.
Oh this post makes me miss yoga! with a bad shoulder i had to stop for a while.. Wow, I could use a good stretch!
We all can, heh? Yoga can be hell on your shoulders. If you can find a good class and teacher, I bet they can work around it. Good luck.
It’s so hard to let go of the sense of control, even though it’s really an illusion, heh?