She Scooped Her Hips Before the Tree

Summary

The author discovers an improvement in their yoga practice by observing and imitating a fellow practitioner, emphasizing the importance of being aware of the influence one's actions have on others.

Abstract

The author reflects on their personal growth in yoga, noting the significance of consistent practice and the humility it instills. They share a specific instance where observing a subtle hip scoop technique from a fellow yoga student led to a marked improvement in their tree pose. This experience underscores the idea that learning is not confined to formal instruction; it can happen organically through observation within a community. The author extends this insight to everyday life, contemplating how our actions, whether in exercise, faith, or social interactions, unconsciously teach and influence those around us.

Opinions

Yoga is valued by the author not just for its physical benefits but also for its mental challenges, including the need to quiet the mind.
The author acknowledges the personal struggle to maintain consistency in their yoga practice despite the numerous benefits it offers.
The author believes that the subtle technique they learned from another student was significant, despite not having received this cue in previous classes.
There is an appreciation for the unintentional mentorship that can occur between individuals in a shared space, such as a yoga class.
The author emphasizes personal responsibility in recognizing that our behavior, even when not directly teaching or mentoring, can have a profound impact on others.
The author questions whether their daily actions contribute positively to their community and the world, highlighting the importance of self-awareness in social settings.

She didn’t know it, but she was my teacher

Well I’m very close to my 50th class into my yoga practice. I haven’t been nearly as consistent as I would like but I really enjoy it. Of course, my internal competitiveness to be great at it was quickly met with humility. In yoga, there are no shortcuts, only proper application and consistent practice will yield results.

Yoga is good for me for a lot of reasons. It slows me down while also challenging me. It requires a different type of focus and awareness that challenges me to keep my mind still. The last few years have revealed how much of a challenge that is for me. The practice significantly affects my blood pressure and stress level as well. These are all very important reasons that motivate me to want to be consistent and proficient in my practice but they are not the biggest benefit that I receive.

It seems that consistently I learn something about life or myself as I struggle from one pose to the next. So, let me share with you today’s lesson. I like the tree pose. It seems to come at a time that I really need to catch my breath and slow my heart rate. Today as we moved into that pose I was moving to the back of my mat and happened to look at the young lady next to me. As she was preparing to get into the pose, I saw her strengthen her left standing leg and do a small ‘scoop’ with her hips and tighten her abs. It was subtle but significant.

So as I began the pose I mimicked what she did and I felt a tremendous difference. I instantly noticed my abs and lower back felt stronger in the pose. I was able to push my hips forward creating a much more solid position. Now I have no idea whether it’s correct or not but I think it must be. I know I’ve never heard the verbal cue to do so in my 40 plus classes. I assumed that at some point someone gave her that cue or she read it or saw it on a video or something.

Either way, what stood out for me is that she was just doing her yoga thing. Very focused and proficient. She didn’t come to teach me, talk to me and we never exchanged a word or mutual glance. The fact remains that I learned from her just because we were both there. I don’t know if what I learned was right or wrong but I replicated it and it will stick with me until I learn better. The application is this: We are going through life, living and doing whatever it is that we choose. We never know who it is that is watching and learning from us. We expect that our children are most of the time. What about those that we are not paying attention to and feel no responsibility for? Whether it is the exercise of our faith or the way we treat a server at a restaurant. We are a community of collective knowledge and behaviors and we instinctively imitate and evaluate other behaviors.

Do the daily motions of my living improve those that are unknowingly watching me? Are the subtle adjustments I make and the routine words that I speak making my community and world better? Or am I creating poor cultural habits in those who “think I know what I’m doing?” I can’t always take responsibility for what others learn but I must be aware of what my life is teaching.