How to Approach a(ny) Practice
Last weekend was the first time for me to immerse myself in the 2nd series of Ashtanga yoga during a five-day intensive training with Ty Landrum. He guided us with such bright inner light through the practice and towards poses that seem to be impossible. And more often than not, they were impossible to do for most of us in the moment. If you take a closer look at how the system of Ashtanga is designed, you will notice that it will always progress you towards more difficult or complex poses. It will bring you to a point sooner or later where you will have to realize that it is not about being able to do the postures but to keep an open space to notice what they bring forth within you.
What do you like? What do you dislike? What pisses you off, or what postures could you stay in forever? It is never about how much you can do, but how much you can notice about yourself moment by moment and really observe the change within you. A teacher once remarked to me that the practice is 100% patience and 0% ambition. You have to remain diligently patient with the postures while not grasping onto them.
This approach is not limited to the practice of yoga; it applies to any practice we undertake. Often, we get caught up in the goal, the end result, and forget that the true value lies in the journey itself. Whether it's learning a musical instrument, mastering a new language, or even cultivating a new habit, the process itself is where the real growth happens. It is within or through the struggle, the repeated attempts, and the consistent effort that we discover who we are and what we are made of.
In our fast-paced, achievement-oriented society, this can be a challenging concept to grasp. We are conditioned to believe that success is measured by how quickly we can accomplish something or how proficiently we can perform a task. However, true mastery comes from embracing the slow and often uncomfortable process of learning and evolving.
So, how should we approach any practice?
With Patience: Understand that mastery takes time. There will be moments of frustration, setbacks, and changing direction.
With Presence: Stay present in each moment of practice. Notice your reactions, your emotions, and your thoughts. Use them as tools for self-discovery.
With Openness: Be open to the experience itself, rather than fixating on the end result. Allow the practice to reveal its lessons to you, no matter how unexpected they might be.
With Consistency: Show up regularly and commit to the practice. Consistency is key to progress and transformation.
By approaching any practice with these principles, we allow ourselves to experience the full depth of what it has to offer. We begin to see that the true reward is not in the final achievement, but in noticing the person we already are and witnessing who we become.
In conclusion, whether you are on a yoga mat, at a piano, or learning a new skill, remember that the essence of any practice is something that is done habitually without an end goal in mind. It is about showing up, being present, and allowing yourself to be transformed by the process. Embrace the practice with patience, openness, and consistency, and you will find that the rewards are far greater than any end goal you could have imagined.