Trusting your Core

I don't think I could say that I've ever reached or have pushed through my bodies pain barrier, but waking up this morning I felt as though it might just happen. After 4 days of two 90 minute Ashtanga Vinyasa classes, plus lectures which are practical and theoretical during each day, my body is definitely starting to reject what I'm giving it (it's not loving all the curries either). But with 20 more days to go until the end of the course there is no way I can give up now. What to do, go hard or go home?

I'm not one for throwing in the towel and admitting defeat so I made sure I got up on time when my alarm went of instead of snoozing as I usually do, to give myself time to wake up. At 6am in the morning this isn't an easy feat. Class starts at 7am and as I walk over to the yoga platform I'm worried and apprehensive about how and if my body is really going to get me though it. We are all required to get our mats and anything we need sorted and in place in silence, which only amplifies the worry in my head. The first instruction is called "Come to the front of your mats and into samasthiti" and for what seemed a  long time but must have only been a second I was reminded as a swatted a fly away from my face and torso the pain that my arms where in but absolutely no pain coming from my abdomen or torso. All the effort I had been putting in had been going into my arms, legs and some of my back but nothing in the core muscles of the body at all.

This whole time I had been working hard every where else but forgetting about the most important part. In yoga we try to ensure that we are engaging through our bandhas there are three of these across the body two of which essentially help isolate the core, supporting the lower and middle back, and helping the practitioner give power to strong poses but also protect vulnerable areas of the body in poses that may not be so strong. 

I proceed through to the next few poses ensuring my breath was strong and core was engaged and sure enough I made it through, in fact I felt pretty good afterwards.With so much going on I managed to forget the most important thing, my core, the centre of me, and as ego filled as it my seem 'I' am important. Where ever we are, whether it be the 9-5 rat race, the school run or general day to day stuff its so easy to forget about being true to ourselves and looking after ourselves. Of course this doesn't mean we need to be selfish but it wouldn't hurt to take a breath and acknowledge who we are, where we are and our wants and needs. Every so often a little self preservation can mean the difference between getting up in the morning and facing the day or staying under the covers retreating inwards or going about our day unconscious of ourselves. Something to think about.

Here are some lovely words that can help allow us to take a moment to look after ourselves as every day is important and even better with the best of ourselves in it.

Salutation to the Dawn

By Kalidasa, Indian Poet

Look to this day!

For it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course

Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:

The bliss of growth

The glory of action

The splendor of beauty

For yesterday is but a dream

And tomorrow only a vision

But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore to this day!

Such is the salutation to the dawn.