I just wanted to quickly share with you a revelation I had today- right on my yoga mat!
Yoga is very confrontational for whatever is going on in our life, in our mind, our lives and our spirits. What we learn about ourselves and within the poses has the power to shift our consciousness past much more than the physical pose itself! Today I took “Flight School” with a wonderful woman named Summer, which is basically a yoga class that is all about inversions. Since I love being upside down, it seemed to be a perfect fit for me.
I have been able to do handstands for a few years now, and bakasana (crow pose) which is an arm balance. But I have never seen a girl be able to press up from a straight-armed crow pose into a handstand in front of me …until today. Summer walked right up to the front to demonstrate, and did it right in front of me.
I had always seen lots of my guy friends do it, and thought it might be one of the poses that is easier for men and the male anatomy to accomplish. I never ever really worked on it because I didn’t think it could really ever happen. WELL I was wrong!!! Seeing the quiet grace with which Summer came onto her hands, bent her knees to the back of her arms and press straight up was awesome!! Like me she is not overly muscular and does not have a gymnastics background either.
Just SEEING that it was possible opened up my mind and I had an almost immediate paradigm shift. Once I knew she could do it, I knew I could do it too. Why? Because we all have the unlimited ability of consciousness within us. All new poses take work to master, but I never focused on that sequence of poses because I didn’t really think it was possible. I didn’t even try. But today after seeing her, I really focused on learning to press up in class today and I almost got it! And I know in a few weeks or months I will get it. Why? Again because I now believe and know that it is possible.
There are so many limitations we put on ourselves, even unconsciously. I challenge you to consider something that you’d really love to do or accomplish but didn’t think you could, and prove yourself wrong. It could be dropping back to your weight from college, learning a new language, getting the promotion at work, making the Green Smoothie every day (of course right!!), etc. It doesn’t have to be something huge- in fact starting with baby steps to accomplish “smaller” things can help us build confidence to go for more.
Except for the truly outrageous thoughts (hey we can’t all be President of the United States but we can do so many other things!) :) if you can even think about trying to pull it off… it IS possible!!
Also…it is the highly anticipated opening weekend of Iron Man 2. I remember being at the set last summer and the excitement back then during every day of shooting… I can’t wait to see it one of these weeks. You won’t catch me waiting in lines this weekend though.
On that note, have a relaxing night! I’m going to rest my pour wrists that had a lot of weight on them today, as I’ll go back to practicing my pressing up from crow into handstand tomorrow, now that I fully know and believe it is possible for me to achieve. And always prepare your post workout snack to control your cravings!
LOVE AND HARE OM,
Kimberly
Thank you for sharing your positive and healthy outlook!
Yes thank you for being such a great inspiration for all of us. I guess that is where the phrase “seeing is believing” is so true!
Hi Kimberly,
I was very inspired about the story of Arthur, the wounded vet. I also have back and knee problems. I am trying to walk everyday but my knees and feet hurt really bad afterwards. Do you have any beginner Yoga DVD’s that you would recommend? I do not have time to go to a gym and I keep my grandson (12 months old) in the evening while my daughter works. I feel that if I had a good beginner Yoga DVD then I could do that at home along with eating more healthy foods and I could improve my health and lose the unwanted weight while helping my knees, back and feet. I have arthritis in my feet.
Thank you for all of the good tips.
I enjoy your emails and I am trying to do little steps towards changing my thinking about foods and healthy eating. I also enjoy you on Dr. Oz and the News.
Thank you for helping so many of us.
Janet
I totally know that yoga-high! Rock on, lady…
Great poses. I am still struggles to hold the pose from the leg on arm stance. But you have inspired me to keep trying. Yoga is so right on.
Wow—I’d love to go from bakasana to handstand too! Thanks for giving me some inspiration….
I really believe and agree with what you’re saying too. I’m a wellness coach, and I use that perspective with people all the time—you may not be able to have, be or do what you want right this second, but if you think it’s impossible you really won’t ever get there!
Positivity, hope, and persistance seem to be key!
Thanks Kimberly,
Lisa
Oh, that handstand is a beautiful inspiration.
true words Kimmy!!
I also do yoga regularly. Thanks for sharing this inspiration with us.
I’m amazed at how your words and story transformed my mindset…from a bit tired this morning to now energized and ready to set some goals for the day (and beyond!) :) Thanks!
Wow, yay!!
I totally think you could get that progression, Kim. It’s def on my list for the future.
Love Flight School. One time I took it and Summer was subbing it. You’re right, she’s very inspiring.
Hi Kimberly,
Great post! Thank you for the inspiration.
Since it is Summer is approaching, would you mind posting some recipes for vegetable dips (especially greek style, yum!) or spreads? Dips make great snacks or satisfying lunches/ light dinners, but I only know how to make baba ganoush, hummus, and tabouli. Any other ideas for dips that I can keep stalked in my fridge?
HI Ashley have you seen my recipe for chickpea-less hummus yet? :)
Yes and I have made it multiple times. It was very yummy! Any other suggestions?
Hi Kim,
I agreed with you that we all put many limitations on ourselves. I have two big ones: Learning languages and I have coordination problems. I really worked very hard on both of them and only years of struggle have taken me far and I still struggle with both but I don’t want to give up. I am like a little turtle…slow but perseverant.
In yoga I find a lot of inspiration in people in the class and teachers and particularly in a woman like YOU!!! It is a little more inspiring with I see a strong women figure out there. More power to US :-)
I am so totally confident that you are going to achieve this new position and of course I will continue myself to work in my bakasana.
See you Thursday,
A lot of it really is in our heads. I dance Kathak, which involves an insane amount of fast footwork and requires a lot of stamina. Trouble is, I have shin splints, which prevent me from dancing for longer than I would like. I hadn’t realized until recently that for the last ten years I’ve been studying this dance form that my fear of footwork was the main reason my shin splints were hurting more than they needed to. It really is important to understand that the only person stopping us from reaching our full potential is ourselves.
Very cool! I actually had been wondering if you had a gymnastics background- I pretty recently began taking my yoga practice more seriously and am starting to work on bakasana and also inversions (just dolphin for now). I could barely do a somersault as a kid, and had been feeling like I would probably be pretty limited in terms of what asanas I would be able to do, so thanks for the inspiration!
I was wondering though, if you had always been pretty flexible? I was a dance student (I’m 25 and just started going back to ballet class) and was never able to do a split and generally had pretty tight hamstrings. I’m working on that again, but that’s another thing I’ve felt limited by in my “old age.” I know a lot can be accomplished by hard work, but I guess I gotta be realistic! :)
Hi love,
My body has opened up so much from yoga. I was not that flexible when I started!! Hamstrings and hips and back take a long time to open up…but you will get there as long as you work hard and eat right!! :)
Love, Kimberly
I’ll keep at it, thanks! :)
you are such an inspiration Miss Kimberly. Been trying this all week. Thanks for the nudge.
nice post! (although i gotta say, it never occurred to me that that pose would be easier for men … there are soooo many inspirational women at that studio!). congrats on getting that other move tonight, i don’t know what to call itbut it looked great!
Do you think Yoga can help with life decisions such as choosing a major/career path in life? I’m a Physics major currently, attempting a dual major in aerospace engineering and astrophysics, but my friends think I would be happier being a nutritionist since I love reading about food and how it effects the body, and I enjoy doing yoga when I can.