Anything is Possible

I used to believe I could never own a home, then I bought my own home. I used to believe I could never lose weight, then I lost 30 kilos. I used to believe that I couldn’t even run for the train, then I ran a full marathon (42klm!!). I believe that anything is possible. I truly believe this, I truly believe with all my heart, that anything is possible. Anything.

Except arm balances.

Some point in my life I decided that arm balances were simply not possible and the only people that could actually do them were yoga teachers. Then, a few weeks ago, I took a class with the beautiful Marissa at Amber Tree Yoga. It was a hard class, but Marissa is so graceful and light that every position seemed effortless. Then, she took us into some arm balances, and because of my unwavering belief that these are impossible, I just gave up and stopped paying attention. Of course there were other people in the class successfully doing them, but I just decided that they were hard core students who practice every day.

But then, I looked over at Prue, my friend that had joined me for the class. Prue hadn’t even thought about yoga for four or five years, and even then she’d only done a few classes. Prue was in the middle of an arm balance – perfect, feet up, wobble, come back to balance, back down onto her mat without a second thought. WTF??? But only yoga teachers can do arm balances. WTF???

Tonight I went to a master class at my teacher training school, My Health Yoga. The master class was arm balances…. Two hours of arm balances – what was I thinking??

What amazes me the most is this simple belief.  It ruins everything. There is no reason I can’t do them, my body works, everything does what it’s supposed to. Sure, I’ve always considered that I have useless twig arms, but they work, they just aren’t that great at helping me climb up stuff. But they see me through – there is no reason I can’t learn this stuff like everyone else. But I cant.

It shows me so clearly that my mind is controlling everything. E V E R Y T H I N G!

I had such a wake up call tonight.  I realised the impact of my limiting beliefs. I don’t know how I am going to do this, how I am going to change this belief. However I am going to change it.

When I was training for the marathon I had this quote stuck all over my house, my work, my car, everywhere:

Training for a marathon is not a single event; rather it is an experience. It is a discovery of the self that will forever change my perceptions, perspectives, priorities and possibilities. I will meet myself at what I thought were the boundaries of my potential and endurance and watch in awe as they evaporate and reveal only open expanse. To know that the only boundaries in life are those which I create for myself is a discovery that cannot be taught – I must experience it. 

For once I have seen the view from the mountain top, living a life of voluntary blindness is no longer an option.

The marathon was a crazy idea because I was 40 years old, and before that I literally hadn’t run since the 800 meter race in grade 7.  Of course I had to train my body, but more so, I had to train my brain to believe that it was possible.

How, in just two years did I go back to having such fixed views about what is possible?

Here is what I am committing to:

• By the end of my teacher training (December), I will see arm balances as ‘possible’ as downward dog. They will be ordinary, usual and every day asanas that are part of my usual practice. they will not be impossible and terrifying.
• Because I have also recently convinced myself the marathon was a fluke (I’ve hardly run since) I’m going to do a half (21klm) in August 2014.

My view of what’s possible is being shifted. I refuse to give space in my brain to these limiting beliefs any longer.
I’m not sure how to do this, but I’ll keep you posted.
xox