Present-moment reckoning + future possibilities (and a movement class)
As a lifelong dancer and lover of making shapes with my body, I thought my first proper yoga class would be a breeze. Less than halfway through, I found myself dripping sweat in tree pose, wondering how on earth a person could stick their foot that high on their opposite thigh and balance there like it was no big deal.
I was humbled again in my first of what would be many yoga teacher trainings, when a teacher trainer pointed out the alignment adjustments I could make in one of my favorite arm balances. It was all in favor of integration and future back relief (it did in fact relieve my back going forward), but at first it made the pose more difficult for both my body and my ego. Misconceiving my own capabilities in that way shook me.
Last week I wrote about effort + releasing control of the outcome—which is actually a core principle of yogic philosophy à la effort + ease and practice + non-attachment. Those early days of studying and teaching yoga were rough for me in that sense—I was used to getting good grades in school and winning awards with my dance teams, so being put in my place was, at the time, kind of crushing. Cue world’s tiniest violin.
The practice of being humbled in yoga continued years later into Iyengar classes for teachers, where I witnessed people 2-3x my age casually balancing on their head for 5+ minutes as if this were their right-side-up. I still study with the same teacher almost 10 years later, and am still happily humbled on a weekly basis.
Because as tough as it was to swallow some of these recognitions about myself, my abilities, and my expectations, I’ve since realized what a gift it is to be humbled.
The humbling
Being humbled gives us something to work toward.
It offers new perspectives and ideas without shaming us.
It expands us into what else might be possible without discouraging us.
It shifts our attention to the present moment and ignites future desires.
It reminds us that no one is all-knowing; we’re all capable of success and mistakes.
It helps us relate to each other and remember that we’re all human.
I’m not saying we need to be constantly hit over the proverbial head like a whack-a-mole game—or be small and belittle ourselves—but rather that we can always learn something new about ourselves, our experiences, and each other.
The humbling gives us an opportunity to refresh our knowledge and wisdom—maybe it even inspires us to dream bigger or go a little further and surprise ourselves.
And the more I think about it, the more I realize how much being humbled in my yoga practice—both as a teacher and a lifelong student—has enhanced my ability to be humbled in daily life without always letting it rock me.
In France, I’m constantly humbled as a non-native speaker. As an adult and human on this earth, I’m constantly humbled by taxes. As a newer-ish climber and amateur cyclist and hiker, I’m constantly humbled by nature and the unknowns of adventure.
I’m humbled by trying to keep houseplants and a balcony garden alive; by going back to dance classes and not being able to execute like I used to; by cooking; by LinkedIn.
In that sense, I guess I’ve been humbled by being humbled. It has shown me that not knowing or understanding something fully isn’t as big a deal as I had made it out to be early on—it’s actually important to remember that no one should expect to know everything, and that there’s always something for everyone to learn.
What a relief, no?!
Most importantly, the humbling constantly reminds me how much we can learn from one another. It has nudged me to swallow my pride, pay attention, swap leadership roles, and really listen—whether or not we agree or see eye-to-eye.
Onward
Take what you know—in movement, mindfulness, nutrition, and whatever else is stored in your memory bank—and know that you don’t need to know or embody it all immaculately or immediately.
Take what resonates and leave the rest for now. Pick up what works along the way. Give yourself grace when the humbling is rockier than expected. Know that the humbling is shaping you somehow—even when it feels sticky in the moment.
Bless the humbling.
What’s humbled you recently? What did you learn about yourself from it?
If you feel you or your team could benefit from a humbling—or if you’re building self-confidence from the ground up—book a free coaching assessment call and we’ll work on personalized, holistic approaches that suit your needs.
Take good care,
S
No Comments