The Impossibles
October 17, 2008
Who is this woman? ...and...What in the world is she doing with the lower part of her body?
She is Vanda Scaravelli and she is doing an “impossible.” Her book, “Awakening the Spine” is a series of essays on yoga, that strongly influenced my practice. Even in a still photograph you can feel the effortless grace of her yoga practice. I only hope that I can remain as fluid and comfortable in my skin at her age.
In life as in yoga there is always some unreachable, some “impossible” that we strive for. My ankles do not curl up and turn outwards this way, but who knows, maybe some day they will. Right now, it seems impossible. Ultimately this pose is just one route among many on the yogic map that points to the exploration of the landscape of the body and spirit. It is not imperative that I travel this particular route, but it is on the map for a reason. It is there to help us find our physical limitations. I sometimes underestimate my physical limits and prematurely label an asana as an “impossible” only to find that with patience and gentle prodding, impossibles can be reached. This has taught me to never say “never” and release my judgement on what yoga can and cannot do.
As a beginning student, Upward Dog, was one of my impossibles. I thought I would never (never) gain enough upper body strength to lift my torso off the floor. I would lay face down on my mat, push through my hands, but nothing happened. I was totally earthbound. Years went by and I still remained earthbound, choosing the gentler precursory poses. But one day as I snaked my upper body through my arms, I discovered a strength that lifted me up OFF THE FLOOR! One day impossible. One day.......effortless. I was elated. The pose that once made me feel like an elephant, began to make me feel like a bird. Little did I know that in subsequent days the mat would begin to feel like a launching pad in which I could soar, not only off the floor, but up up up to the ceiling with an” impossible” lightness of being.
This has given me a complete faith in the wisdom of yoga. I no longer feel like I have to “strive” to attain a certain pose or asana, because I trust that yoga will manifest the expression of its power in my body as nature sees fit. However, through attaining some of my personal impossibles, I have learned to change the perception of my place in the external world. It reminds me to remain open minded in view to my limits and never underestimate my own power. It reminds me that I can radically change the shape of my life, just as the physical body changes its muscular form according to how it is trained, and it has allowed me to relax and enjoy the process without so keenly looking towards a goal.
