I really want to learn how to balance on my head and do the splits this year (separately...and probably together too). Why? I want to be super flexible; I want to be able to do things I never thought I could; I, mostly, just want to be able to say I can. Which aren't awful reasons and they're not terrible goals, but they're kind of pointless.
Why do I need to be able to stand on my head? When you think about that, it's absurd. But there's yogi's and gymnasts and a whole bunch of people out there striving to do just that. And when I do eventually learn to balance on my head, then I'm going to want to be able to do scorpion and lots of other insane contortions with my body because there's always somewhere else to be.
Nothing is ever enough. When we reach the goals we set for ourselves we just set new ones, almost immediately upon achieving the first ones. We barely even take the time to relish in our accomplishments; we certainly don't actively enjoy the moments leading up to achieving our goals.
And if we aren't present for all the time we put into achieving something, is it worth it? What was the point? Just to say we could? If we spend our lives just doing things so we can tell other people or ourselves that we can, I think we're missing the point.
I try to remind myself every time I step onto my yoga mat that I have already arrived. It doesn't matter what I manage to do with my body in the eighty minutes I'm there, because just sitting on my mat and taking those first few breaths is as far as I ever need to go. In those first few breaths, I practice consciousness. I came to class because I wanted to be kind to myself, because I wanted to connect to a deeper part of myself. And while standing on my head may facilitate some kind of deeper connection, it won't if I'm unwilling to be present every step of the way.
And isn't that true of life? I can obsess over finally getting my degree, but it's just a piece of paper if I don't really enjoy and make sure I'm present for all the moments leading up to receiving it. It's the same with promotions. It's the same with getting into a committed relationship. Sometimes we obsess so much over "arriving" that we don't even think about the steps we have to take just to start the journey.
Which doesn't mean that goals are pointless. I'm definitely going to learn that headstand this year, but I'm not going to learn it if I don't first practice strengthening my core and my upper body. These are the beginning steps, and I have to be present for them. I can choose to enjoy them, even though they hurt and they suck, not because they're going to lead me to headstand but because I'm in those poses and I have to learn to be content with where I'm at. Only then will I learn that wherever I am going is a mental rather than physical destination. Only then will I learn that I've already arrived.
P.S the photo is from my second aerial class and you know I'm hoping to be the girl in left sooner or later. But I'm also happy right where I'm at because I'm freaking flying!
Good luck with your goals! I am a very goal oriented person and I find that being flexible always makes me feel better and more motivated to do other sorts of workouts :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've found that going to yoga 5-6 times a week makes me a better runner because my body is looser and my breath more regular. But starting aerial classes I've realized I'm nowhere near as flexible as I need to be! I started doing yin yoga this weekend, where I have to hold poses for so long I want to cry...but it should help :)
DeleteOh man I loved clicking over here and seeing that photo, aerial classes are some of my favorite but SO HARD. I love the silks.
ReplyDeleteI try really hard to just appreciate every step of the process because everything is some sort of accomplishment. Every time you get one extra climb on the silks, closer to the ground in your splits, or an extra minute on the treadmill. Focusing less on the final destination has made me realize there is very rarely a final destination and that all of it is worth enjoying.
SO hard. My arms have been in serious pain for the last few days haha, but I love it so much! When it comes to aerial, I have to remind myself to enjoy all the little accomplishments or I'd give up because it's so different from anything I've attempted before.
DeleteThis post sort of fills me with all sort of bliss... it is JUST the reminder I've needed. I'm a really competitive person, so when I set goals, I want to achieve them as quickly as possible... mostly just for the satisfaction of "winning." But a lot of times I miss the big picture, the sort-of meditation of working towards the achievement and all the little steps. I miss the little things and only focus on the big picture. This post kind of woke me up that I need to stop and live for now, not the future and work a little slower. Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI think I write these posts just to remind myself. Once I write them down and put them out there for the world to see, it means I have to apply it to my own life. Always nice when it's helpful for someone else too :)
DeleteI have to constantly remind myself of this, too. The temptation to rush to get ahead to the goal is huge, but it's easy to forget the little (but important) things along the way. And, like you mentioned, since our goals are always changing, that could make for a lot of forgetfulness. It's good to keep ourselves in check.
ReplyDeleteAnd I just think it's so cool you're taking aerial classes. I'd love to try something like this one day. First, I need to start doing more yoga. And be present in it. :)
I cannot recommend yoga enough. All the other things I do (run, aerial) I enjoy but yoga adds just a general sense of well-being and contentedness to my life that is hard to find elsewhere. But saying that, aerial is really freaking cool, and you should try that too! :)
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