Early this year, I travelled to Rishikesh to heal my frozen shoulder (the gift of perimenopause) and practice with a 75-year-old German yoga teacher, an Iyengar student.
It was an incredible few weeks to start with, walking every morning and afternoon, crossing the Ganga river with chants in the background, monkeys everywhere, women with colourful saris baptising and sending their prayers with floating candles and flowers, the smell of spicy chai, and smiley humans bowing with namaste (which means ‘I recognise that divine within you’). They meant it, which put tears in my eyes every time.
I felt that I was getting stronger mentally, physically and spiritually.
Then I fell and hurt my wrist. I got some shilajit (a potent mineral elixir) and turmeric and processed the disappointment that after all these long travels, I would not be able to practice.
After a meditation on the Ganga, I decided that’s what I came to learn: non-attachment and surrender to what is.
I went to the strict teacher, Usha Devi, to tell her I’d return in a few weeks.
She said: ‘Why? Keep practising without using your hand’.
She had a severe car accident ten years ago, and she came to practice with many props, but every day, she was back on the mat.
Our practice on the yoga mat rewires the brain to keep going even when it’s not comfortable or perfect.
We stay flexible, grateful and strong despite the unexpected challenges.
Yoga is the science of the mind, training us to focus on what is beneficial for healthy personal growth rather than hooking into harmful thoughts.
Growth will always feel unsafe becase it’s new to the mind, but we have to show up every day, with all our imperfections, with determination to keep going towards what brings us ALIVE.
Ways you can stay centred while being triggered
