Sensations and such
Multiple Sclerosis provides some weird and whacky sensations that make practice sometimes difficult. It’s my normal so I really don’t know anything else. So I wanted to understand myself as I practice kinda like me understanding me. We all have something that we deal with in practice. Could be a bad knee, an old shoulder injury, sore back, etc. etc. It could be something deep inside that wants to be flushed out, we all have something to overcome. You understanding you.
The good thing is that most of these things that we are dealing with in our body or spirit, can most definitely be improved with yoga. I know this fact just for myself but I’ve seen it many times over with just the people I have practiced with. Yoga heals.
So the first thing I deal with at a studio is how bright is it. I need lots of light and I will search out the brightest spot in any studio I go in. So when I look for a spot I sometimes am located away from the rest of the participants. It may look like I’m antisocial but I’m just looking for the best light.
The colour of the walls can also be a problem for me. Beige walls seem to be the worst as I get lost in them and for some reason can not focus on something to hold my gaze which again I need to maintain balance. And the closer I get to that beige wall (facing it) makes it even harder to maintain balance – who knew.
Once I was at a beautiful studio in Winnipeg, MB that kept the lights off and the only source of light was coming through a glass panelled wall. Everyone was away from the glass but I located myself as close to the glass as possible but again that was away from everyone else.
The reason I need light is for balance. With not much sensation in my feet and sensory points in my leg joints means that I have only my eyes and ears for balance. So I need to see just to be able to stand up. It’s funny ‘cause the quality of standing asanas for me is based on light – such a simple thing.
Another sensation is standing on foam. The weirdest sensation by far is sinking into the floor as I stand. It’s like I’m standing on foam which creates kind of a sinking feeling but also a wobbly feeling. It’s very strange and disorienting.
Utthitahasta Padangusthasana is one of the hardest asanas for me to do. I have to stand on one foot, and grab the big toe of the other foot while standing up. This is done at the top of the mat so balance is paramount. I do this at the bottom of my mat and hold onto the wall to maintain my balance. Even holding onto the wall; if the sinking feeling starts to happen, I’m toast.
Tingling is a constant feeling mostly in my legs and hands. When it gets intensified practice becomes very uncomfortable. But it’s mostly due to when clothing touches my legs that it feels worse. I did post about practicing naked in my basement, which did help a little, but I can’t and would never do that in a studio. And if my legs were that bad I would not even venture in – I’d stay home.
Sharp stings, pricks, electrical type shocks, and a feeling of wetness also occur. The electrical shocks happen in the back of my knee which forces an immediate pushing forward of my knee which in some standing asanas is problematic. It was more of a concern to me when I was assisting others in an asana. However it’s a rare occasion when it happens and it has not happened for a while.
There are good sensations also and these can be felt by all and that is human touch. I love a good adjustment and I would guess that all yogis appreciate hands that know what they are doing. They can direct, help, align, soothe, improve, transmit. For me that human touch almost always slows my breath and brings a sense of calm.
And breathing is a gift that keeps on giving. My ability to lose myself in breath and focus on just that not only allows me to “float”, but it helps me to forget these sensations are happening. It allows practice to take me away; a respite if you will.
So there you go a listing of sensations that occur during practice. MS exists within me and I’ve known nothing else while I practice. Even with these sensations I’ve had many successful, peaceful, enjoyable, sessions on my mat.
I expect to have lots more.
Be safe
Really interesting, David.