Yoga Journey #24

Who is that

It took me about two hours to read all my monthly posts just on the yoga side of this blog. I might be a slow reader but that is a lot of words. My intention was to remind myself what I’ve posted over the past two years before this post.

This blog represents my experiences with yoga and Multiple Sclerosis. This post is called Yoga Journey #24 and that number represents two years of monthly yoga and MS posts. It’s the blogs two year anniversary – woo hoo! Along with the monthly posts I also posted a five part series on teaching. And I posted silly stuff like songs with different words and poems/blurbs that represent how much fun I am really having.

I could tell you I’m an expert on MS and a rookie on yoga. But neither one of those statements are true. I’ve had MS for 25 years but that does not make me an expert as my version is probably different from yours. I have been practicing Ashtanga for eight years and in no way am I a rookie. It’s also true that my version of yoga is different than yours. My life’s experiences provide for a different journey.

What I’ve discovered about yoga is that it’s individual. I can teach you the asanas, how to breathe, adjust and bind you but I can’t teach you how to feel or what to think. A teacher can lead you to water but they can not make you drink. What I can tell you is if you maintain your practice and “let it be” you will be strong, feel calm, relaxed, and peaceful at least that is where I have arrived.

Yoga is in essence self reflection and I’m not telling you anything new here. But I was a skeptic when I started but now I’m not.

If you are a person who reads this blog for the yoga posts I appreciate your trust. I’ve always wanted this blog to represent an honest explanation of my journey and I’ve tried to do this in a way that questions what I’m learning in a we-are-on-the-same-road kinda way.

The best part of my yoga journey has been the people I’ve met some of which are great teachers. They changed how I thought about stuff, to be open, aware, excepting, loving, and kind. One even showed me how to drink the water. In a way I discovered, or a better word might be, uncovered who I should have always been. And I’ve felt the essence which I could say was spiritual(1) which questioned who I have become. It’s never too late to become better and receive.

There were also times that I felt uncomfortable about the moment I was in, about what I was learning, hearing, or seeing. But that just shows that I needed to learn and accept who I am.

I’m just an average Dave and I’m proud of that fact. I don’t have anything to prove and that takes off the pressure. I’ve made loads of mistakes in my life and I hope I’ve learned from those mistakes. I feel I’m the best me I can be.

And a big part of that is because my journey with yoga has been revealing, informative, and it’s definitely been a joy. It has humbled me but it’s also shown me what’s possible. And if I had read this post eight years ago I’d say to myself “who is this wanker”.

It’s me.

Be safe

(1) I normally would not use this word because the old me connected the word to religion. So if I say spiritual means that I feel something without touch or actual physical connection from someone else could you prove me wrong.