Le Journal de +Louise

After yesterday’s lack lustre practice and a mere 4 hours of sleep, I slowly unrolled my mat, ignoring the dull muscle pain in my right calf, stared blankly into the mirror and wondered if it was worth putting my body through this. An extra 90 minutes of sleep could do me some good.

Almost every class that I have attended, there will be a handful of new beginners. This 9.30am class was no different. Having been coming to class for a while, I can almost smell and pick out the fresh blood.

You know the ones. They circle and gather together at the reception, apprehensively filling in the sign-up form. They waltz into the studio, “thud” as they plonk down their mats, sit cross legged and start to chat. Not just quiet whispers, but real chatty chat. Despite all the dirty stares from other yogis in the room, they continued the loud banter.

I prepared myself for a difficult class ahead.

As the class progressed along, albeit slowly, a new disgruntled yogi stood up while everyone was in a deep Triangle, carelessly rolled up her mat and headed straight out the door. The teacher had to halt the class and persuade her to stay in the room for the full 90 minutes. I wasn’t sure if it was the heat that finally got to her, or that she felt singled out numerous times for corrections of postures and holding off on water consumption.

Ahhh…. First-time dramas. I’ve seen a few of those. I nearly walked out during my 2^nd class. I have always wondered, do these new beginners who walked out of their first class ever come back for the second?

The teacher returned into the room and said, “This might as well be one of the hardest things you have ever had to do. Do not give up, everybody in here was a beginner once.”

I love that mantra. Everybody was a beginner once. No matter how good you are, no matter how long you have been practising, no matter how far you have come, the first time was always the hardest.

When the class finally moved along, it was time for one of the most challenging postures. Toe Stand. Having been practising for almost a year now, I am still finding it nearly impossible to balance on my toes, without collapsing to my sides or feeling the excruciating pain at the ball of my foot.

As with all other postures, the teacher always attempts to coax us to try our best, form over depth, yet all the while being gentle, and patient with the body.

Some people get it right away, some people may take months, some even years.

And with that phrase in mind, I let go of my frustration, aligned my shoulders and took the posture to wherever I was capable of.

All I have to do is be patient. I will get there. Surely. Eventually.