An unexpected rest day that was full of things I love. Saturdays are no class days barring some housekeeping for a couple of online ones early in the morning. The rest of it is quite unstructured in general. But today was a little different. I had two commitments, one was a recce meeting and the other a mentoring one. The recce was outdoors for a tree walk I’d be leading next weekend and the mentoring one was an online monthly one with an enthusiastic and earnest group of 3 young women who run an NGO. The morning meet was supposed to be for an hour but while working out my route, I was engrossed in the wonderful world outside.
In the afternoon, I headed to the trail for a walk but had to abort midway as it was simply too slippery. But since I was out, it was easy to follow my feet and I wandered into a green compound. A long amble and while walking, bits and pieces of Prashantji’s classes kept coming up to the surface. He talks about education in yoga and listening to him addressing students and teachers on the same theme is like a 360⁰ view and immersion at the same time.
He emphasizes exploration in our study. It got me thinking about how we learn as children, as adults.
As an amateur naturalist, I observe and am curious. There is no baggage of science when I discover something unknown to me. That comes later. And it struck me that it is a child’s process that I employ. It is fun and there are no expectations. There is a constant rearranging of information that is gathered over the years in the face of something new and my head tries to make accomodate it. It is the same in asana too. Learning and relearning.
Despite the gravity of the subject, Yoga brings sense of child-like wonder and joy. Practice can be playful as well. I’ve never done asanas outdoors but seeing a big metal barrel in the field this evening, I was reminded of Guruji and draped myself over it. The experience was so different. My hands on the wet mud, the vast world upside down and a sense of ease in that bending into the unknown. Quietly exhilarating. Although if it weren’t for the complete isolation of that space, I probably wouldn’t have attempted it. This week was backbends and we did some heavy duty work in class so a supported urdhva Dhanurasana felt good.
At day’s end, I’m glad to have partaken of the marvelous bounty that is life.
anonymous sadhaka 
Wonderful picture of your barrel asana. The playfulness and discovery of the whole post come through in it. I love practicing outdoors. My focus is better, my mind more receptive.
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Thanks Amber. I should try and do the same sometimes. It’s so easy to get stuck in a fixed way of practice. Thank you for sharing.
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I have recently been starting my practice outdoors with time to connect to a pine tree in our backyard, the sky, the earth, the flowers in the garden, the wind, random squirrels and birds… It is amazing. It is a resettling and re-orienting of myself after inside time. I move, but play around with the movement. Play. As you say, so important for learning! Explorative play: my practice is more and more this.
: )
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🙂 something even I should incorporate. Now that the rains are on the wane, I could play like that one of these days.
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Since I have been teaching yoga asanas and philosophy to college age students I have also become more playful. In the past my students have begged to take the class outdoors—but perhaps this was a reaction to the pandemic and having to wear masks inside (except when actively practicing yoga—which is ironic, I think). They are generally less fearful and more uninhibited than “grown-ups.” It is good to see your beautiful supported back bend and your friends, the trees.
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I’m inspired to try outdoor practice once in a while after all the experiences I have read here. 🙂
It’s only now that I am slowly able to practice in company in the hall. Practice has been such a private endeavour all this while.
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Yes–I understand, especially in the “big hall.” But we are all joined, quite literally, in yoga. I’m glad you’re finding your own space in the big picture. I know you add so much to others’ experiences.
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