I’ve been a bit reluctant to attend class lately since most of the asanas are not available to me. My head tells me that I could do my little bit at home instead of going to class.
Friday was a treat for me despite doing a number of repeats of dandasana, parsva dandasana and paschimottanasana. A class within a class of sorts while the rest of the hall did twists and various other poses. By the end of class, my back felt good and I had a glimpse of tadasana in my buttocks. I left feeling happy.
Danda means punishment or staff and it’s an interesting word considering my current state of recovery from injury. Yama, the Lord of Death, is aptly shown holding the staff, a stiff reminder of the injunctions of ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha. Pretty much in line with the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament. Both have death as a common thread, as a means to pay back karmic debt and as punishment for sin.
What does all that have to do with my knee? Plenty. In retrospect, I violated all the yamas in my desire to run fast. One does not mess with the mighty vows and escape unscathed. How I got here is history, it cannot be changed. But, what I can do about it is what Sutra 2:33 says. As Guruji elaborates, “By raising the weak or dull to the level of the intelligent or strong, the sadhaka learns compassion in action.” Although, compassion is easier practised with other people than with oneself.
I do miss the road and hope to get back once healed. Unfinished business, you could say, before I hang my running shoes (only I don’t own any😊). Hopefully, I will get back stronger and a little more humble. In the meanwhile, I remain happy in dandasana. After all, it is tadasana, just seated.
anonymous sadhaka 
Don’t beat yourself with a stick 🙂 Give yourself the love and compassion that you have given to all of us over the years and you will indeed see that you have have always had a bountiful karmic bank account. You just happened to injure you knee temporarily, that’s all 🙂
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😊 Thanks Michael. Actually, quite happy for this temporary time out. It’s been an opportunity to do things I never would have done otherwise.
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Dealing with injuries is educational. I am currently coping with two things, a left shoulder impingement and right adductor strain, that limit my yoga practice. I have to have other people demonstrate while I’m teaching. The injuries came from teaching too many classes and paying too little attention to how repeated demos in multiple beginner classes were affecting me. (Teaching yoga in a college setting, I get beginners every semester, several sections of the class.) Running is fine, for which I’m grateful. I integrate my physical therapy exercises into my yoga practice, paying attention to my breath as if they were asanas. It’s hard for me not to push myself in yoga. I’m a slow and contented runner, but I have to apply yoga philosophy more thoughtfully to my yoga. Good post. What I needed to hear.
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Sorry to hear about your injuries. I hope you come back to full capacity soon.
As you say, injuries are quite educational.
It’s been interesting to see how the mind and body operate within restrictions. I’ve also been using the physio recommended exercises as though practising asana. It makes for better presence while doing them rather than just counting the reps.
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