Why Sequencing is important?

When i was just a started practising yoga, i've never give much thought about sequencing. That's the job of the teacher anyway, and i just have to follow through. Later to realise that some practice guided me smoothly and confidently into poses; however some others seemed like a bumpy rides.

Let say, if the final pose is to move into a Wheel Pose (back bend). All other poses before is a preparation work for this pose. Maybe, open the shoulders, gentle extension of the spine, forward fold to counter rest, more chest opening... and eventually to enter Wheel Pose confidently and comfortably.

Instead of, doing random poses, whichever looks interesting to do. And jump into a Wheel Pose--- which may invite more fear and tension to the body, or uninvited injuries.

When i started teaching, i soon to see the importance of sequencing. Not only applies in classes, but in anything that we are doing. Everyone of us has got a goal, and a plan to follow through. We don't have to look too far to see if we're getting nearer or further to the goal, just check out the habits and activities we're engaging now. It's all enough said.

Sequencing our thoughts and activities helps to guide ourselves to a directed path. We know that each action we take is for the good. That our next act should lead us closer, with more confident when moving into something bigger. Our tongue loves to shoot out promises, plucking from the moon and the stars. But our behaviour and next act already tells us if we're directing ourselves to closer or further away from our promises.

I was attending " Sequencing Backbendings" by Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman; its a click of reminder for me that there are plans we still need to follow through with discipline and faith. Though our mind likes to suggest otherwise, for the surge of excitement, but our heart is rooted to the truth.

" Ask yourselves. Where are you directing yourselves to... at the things you are doing RIGHT NOW?
Are you moving closer or further? We have to check constantly, we have to know clearly where we are leading to... beacause nobody else will."

Sweetness of falls

Arm balancing is like a sweet- desert i enjoy in practice. Initially i was attracted to the satisfaction of getting up there, and the thrills of falling down repeatedly. Slowly, as all these peel away; i appreciate the comfort of resting in an arm balance.

The most painful fall for arm-balance was when i was trying to get up into a Crow pose. I was so determine to just fly up there; i placed a cushion in front of me... and i fell hardly through the cushion and hit on my lips. For a moment, i thought i was going to lost my front tooth!

Frightened, i was very. Ironically, this fall had not pull me away from the pose. Instead, i practice with more wisdom than just pure ego-ness. I learn how to foresee a fall if it has to happen, and how to save myself from it. I accepted that failing is part of the whole lesson; and having to stand up back again and again makes me stronger.

Whether its a crow, scorpion or handstand, there's always process of repeated falls, countless picks up back again... till eventually we when we learn how to draw complete focus to laser beam within, bore through all distraction and doubts, we reach a comfort in such instability. When we decided to drop all other things to just gather all the strength to our deep core line.

Its an amazing feeling where i could not get from standing on both feet. The equilibrium between falling front, sides and back... that i don't any other things but the centre point.

Just like in life, be it our falls happen because we tripped or someone pushes us; we wipe our tears, stand up and keep moving forward. And in that darkness, we learn how to stretch out our arms to helping- hands whom are willing to give us a boost. Thus, i would like to thank all the falls i got myself into, that deliver painful but genuine lessons.

"Our greatest strength lies not in never failing, but in rising each time we fall" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Temptations

"Yes" is a nice word we all like to use. Of course, if we can, we would probably want to say "Yes" to everything. But every "Yes" comes with many "No".

The point that we are right here, now... is because we'd said "No" to all other things; for the "Yes" to choose to do what we are doing now. The question is, how strong is our "Yes"?
There's always those moments our mind will want to test how strong our faith can be, trying to pull us down. And we need to appreciate that by saying "No" even to ourselves give us a leap forward.

Are we willing to give all other things up just to do be here? Are we willing to let go of all other things to be just committed to this "Yes"?

A stones collector gave up all his collections just for this gem..