the joys
OF HOME PRACTICE
Cultivating Energy, Attention, and Appreciation
by Bruce BlackOne of the biggest surprises was how comfortable I felt practicing without a teacher.
Or rather, I was surprised to discover that I could be my own teacher.
W
hen I began practicing yoga more than a decade ago,
I had no intention of starting a home practice, even
though each of my teachers had encouraged me to do so.
Most of the time I felt lost on my mat, uncertain about
my ability to do any of the poses without the guidance of a teacher.
Could I really do yoga at home unassisted? And how was I supposed to
set aside another fifteen minutes, a half-hour -- or more -- each week on
top of my 90 minute class?
But on the days between practicing in the studio, I noticed how I
missed the sense of calm and well-being that I felt after each class. Even
if I might not be an expert yogi, even if I didn’t have a teacher in the
room with me, I convinced myself in time that perhaps I could find a way
to do yoga on my own. By then I had been doing yoga for six months,
maybe a year. I had learned enough to feel comfortable in various posi-
tions. I could stand on my mat in mountain pose. I balanced on one leg
in tree pose. I could lean forward in a lunge. I held downward facing dog
for more than a few breaths. Maybe it was possible to create a home
practice, after all.
So, I started practicing at home and it didn’t take long to realize I was
free to control the pace and intensity of each pose, as well as the flow of
the sequences, unlike in class when the teacher decided how fast and how
hard to push us. If I wanted to rest on my mat in a few restorative poses,
I could - and that would become my practice.
In the beginning I didn’t set a regular time for yoga. When I felt the
need to stretch or rest, I rolled out my mat. I liked the spontaneity of
such a practice. But after a while I wanted something different, some-
thing structured that I could look forward to. I set aside a regular day
and time, and I began looking forward to those days as much as I looked
forward to my studio class each week.
It seemed so daunting at first. I remember how intimidated I felt by
the idea of practicing on my own when I knew so little about yoga. All
sorts of questions raced through my mind. What poses should I do? How
should I sequence the poses? Should I practice for ten minutes, thirty,
sixty? Should I play music or practice in silence? Should I set up my mat
outside or inside?
With the help of my teachers, I found the inspiration to move past
these questions—to move into these questions—and let go of thinking
there was only one way to practice. All I needed to do was unroll my mat
and find the courage to step onto it.
One of the biggest surprises was how comfortable I felt practicing
without a teacher. Or rather, I was surprised to discover that I could be
my own teacher. Ironically, my instructors had taught me that I could
teach myself what I needed to know. In class I had learned to listen
closely to my body. At home I could figure out what it might need on a
particular day.
I explored forward bends and lunges. I tested how my body felt in
each pose. I took my time. I could linger and not have to rush or hurry
past certain feelings or gloss over places where I might feel tight in order
to keep up with the rest of the class.
Since those early days, I’ve discovered through trial and error what
works and what doesn’t. I’ve learned to back off when a pose feels too
demanding or when my practice feels stale and I need a break to recharge.
I also know when to push harder to discover new sources of energy.
Mostly, I’ve found ways to listen more closely to my body, and how to
hear what my muscles, heart, and soul need in the moment. I’ve learned
to pay attention. And paying attention—close and careful attention in
my home practice and in class—has given me a new appreciation for my
body, as well as a new sense of gratitude for its ability to guide me into
poses on the mat and in the rest of my life.Bruce Black is the author of Writing Yoga (Rodmell Press/Shambhala). He lives in
Sarasota, Florida: journalpractice.wordpress.com.