Pose & Re-Pose

A Student’s Mind-

Step your feet 3 to 4 ft wide, turn your left foot in slightly and your right foot forward to face the front of the mat,exhale and extend your torso forward—bending from your hip joint to reach your side body directly over your front leg, right hand on the floor or on a block, the left hand reaching towards the sky. My gaze is focused upwards and I ease into Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose). As I settle into the pose, I hear the instructor’s reminder to maintain it. After a few moments, I realize my knees are no longer stretched, my hip has shifted, and the stretch has faded. I acknowledge this, realign my body, and adjust my pose.
I await the instruction to come out of the pose but I hear nothing. My mind begins to wander, and I notice my breath becoming ragged. I gently refocus on my breathing, finding a sense of peace within the pose. Despite my efforts to stay present, my mind drifts again. I gently remind myself to return to the pose and be mindful. This cycle of drifting and refocusing continues until I finally receive the instruction to release the pose.

Should I be hard on myself for losing focus? Absolutely not. The core philosophy of Karuna Yoga is compassion—towards ourselves and others. I take pride in my ability to recognize when I’ve drifted and to gently guide myself back to the present moment, even if just for a few breaths.

In life, just as in yoga, we often stray from our intended path. When you find yourself off course, practice self-awareness and kindness. Accept where you are, and gently bring yourself back to where you want to be. Every day, let’s work with ourselves, embracing and celebrating the journey of self-awareness and growth.

-Sarvani J