We can learn so much by nourishing our mind-body connections. When we exercise, we're not simply reaping physical benefits, but we're also elevating ourselves mentally and learning life lessons in the process. Here are a few lessons that I have learned over the past few years that particularly stand out:
3. Practicing yoga has taught me that people really aren’t paying attention to you as much as you think they are. Even instructors with hundreds of hours of yoga under their belts occasionally fall out of poses. They have days when their bodies aren’t as flexible as they usually are, and they have days when they find it difficult to focus. My fellow yoga practitioners and I fall out of poses all the time. Through yoga, we have learned humility. We have learned how to not judge others when they fall, and we have learned how to not judge ourselves. We have also learned how to get back up again after we fall. These lessons in non-judgement and resilience extend to life outside of yoga as well; we judge less harshly the mistakes our peers make, recognizing that at any given moment, they are at a different place in life than we are. My favorite yoga instructor likes to remind us to “come from a place of power, not pride.” He emphasizes that we should not stretch into the full expressions of poses until we have their foundations fully developed. Even if everyone else is in full expression, we must have the power to release judgement and objectively assess where we are in our practice. Have the power to be confident in and satisfied with yourself, and do not stress over how people perceive you. 4. Find friends that challenge you, share your passions, and excite you. Before joining the Duke triathlon club in November, I didn’t have a group of athletic friends to hold me accountable, inspire me, and bond with me. When I began to train with them every day, laughter re-entered my life, and I felt like I had people who cared about me. My recovery from my eating disorder is 99% attributable to finding the tri club. We travelled together to Bariloche, Argentina, over spring break, where we competed in a half Ironman. I was astounded to learn how spontaneous the team was; I have met very few people in my life who would want to swim in a lake so cold that it takes your breath away for the fun of it, but lo and behold, that’s what six of us did the week after the race. As is natural for triathletes, we shared a common inflated ambition and drooled over cool races together. While we need to surround ourselves with a variety of personalities to ensure balance, it is integral to find a group with whom we can relate on a deep, spiritual level. This group doesn’t have to be athletic in nature, but it should be one that meets regularly and reliably, and it should be one that pushes you to your limits.
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