Relax and Let Go

I taught a class today for people working on hand stand.  This was week 3 or 4 of a 9 week course, and I was subbing for the regular teacher.

Hand stand is a difficult proposition for many, and teaching it is an excellent opportunity to teach some of the key concepts of yoga.  At one point, while the class was holding a forearm plank to build core strength, I encouraged them to relax any excess tension.  We always use more effort than is required, and then we hold it and it stays in our bodies for a while as tension that affects our subsequent practice.  Later, while they practiced pushing up toward a hand stand, I encouraged them to forget about the goal (getting all the way up) and just be with the experience - pushing up and feeling what it was like to have both feet off the ground and weight moving up over hands and shoulders.

After class two students came up to me with specific comments.  One said that my entreaty to relax while doing a strenuous pose was particularly helpful.  The other said that when I suggested they give up the goal of achieving a full hand stand, that he found he was actually getting more float time from his efforts.

It's gratifying, and an acknowledgment of the truth of the ideas, when instructions connect with the students so directly.