Outside My Comfort Zone

This was my first week back after taking two weeks off for my health, so I was excited to kick it off with a little outdoor yoga this past Sunday. Lucky for you (and my Instagram) my husband recently took a photography class and wanted to work with his camera and help me create a little content. Most of you who know me may remember me with a camera in my hand and hardly ever in the pictures. You can see where this was a big step for me.

We started at the labyrinth. I’ve walked it a few times, ironically as a “break” in my longer walk, eventually able to mute my surroundings and find my center. So this was one more journey through it… Then I heard him loud and clear, “stop!” Suddenly, my surroundings came rushing in and my focus was broken. From that point on I was very aware of the fact that I was being watched in this practice for the first time. See, as soon as you know that you are being watched, your movements and body language change. My gaze was all over the place, my walk felt stiff, and every now and then I couldn’t help but think “how does this look?” Things I don’t typically feel when walking this path.

At the center of the labyrinth, I let go of the shoot – mostly because I was sitting with my eyes closed. I had a new meditation practice to try and a mala (“garland” – strand of beads) that I finally got around to making. Clumsy as my hands were, the repetition of the japa meditation kept my mind on track and the mala provided a comfort similar to using a rosary. I could hear the camera clicking and the traffic passing by. I let it all happen without me and I disappeared into my meditation. 

Next up on our list was the asana practice. I love doing my yoga in the park, but between the foot-traffic and the traffic-traffic, it just wasn’t a great setting for photos. Preferred location #2: the creek! There are a handful of places to do yoga along the creek. Unfortunately, down by the bridge is not one of them. It’s quite a bit of a slope off of the trail, that’s why I never set-up there. The slope makes it hard enough, but keep in mind he was trying to get a good shot! Every time I changed direction even slightly my body and balance had to adapt. This was certainly felt throughout my body the next day and I realized how comfortable I had become in my practice recently. 

I also found myself holding poses longer than I typically would. Just as I was ready to come out of something, legs shaking and breath becoming tighter, he would say, “hold it, just a second.” Yeah, ok! Sometimes when you know you are being watched, you also work just a little harder. In my own practice it is the voice in the back of my head, “hang out, just one more breath!” …when I thought that I ran out of air two breaths ago… But the fact is that I did it. More importantly, I know that my body can do it. 

I’ve never been a fan of the “no pain, no gain” mentality, especially in my yoga. However, stepping outside of your comfort zone and opening up your practice to new experiences is how you grow.

Photos by Taylor Geiman