05/12/2014
David Garrigues Yoga
Student Question:
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT I BE ABLE TO "FLOAT"? Am I to old to worry about this stuff? Is the weakness in my shoulders something that I will never overcome at this point? Will my stomach problems always set me back?
DG ANSWER:
This is a tough one but i would advise you NOT to give up on trying for bandha power and upper body strength. It is true that this battle may not be 'winnable' and it will almost certainly be with you all the way to the end. And you do have to factor in things like that you are not much inspired to work at it, and that you don't feel particularly successful at it......in short this part of the practice is extremely hard and perhaps feels largely unrewarding. But don't let your ego fool you......just the fact the you are trying, even if the visible results are little or none---you are benefiting--tremendously.
This is the first time that you have explicitly stated that you have stomach troubles and now things make more sense to me. But the very fact that you have stomach troubles says that you must continue to go to battle with developing core strength and upper body strength--core strength is directly involved with your belly, digestion, intestines.....core strength is belly strength, breathing well and bandha's give you visceral and digestive power........working on this area of your body is going right to the heart of the battle--physically and mentally. And in this you are not alone---
This area, muladhara and the area just above it--is the location where the hatha yoga techniques LIVE---everything is born from your center.......and thus each person--whether they know it or not---is suffering from some sort of weakness or deficiency here------and so for everyone-with or without stomach troubles--this is the center of the battle I would go as far as to say it is that in hatha yoga terms--EVERYONE has stomach troubles-ha!
Thus I would also say that many facets of health physical, mental, psychological, energetic depend upon you NOT GIVING UP AND DECIDING THAT YOU ARE TOO OLD FOR ATTEMPTING TO DEVELOP THIS ASPECT OF YOUR PRACTICE. I know this is and will be challenging and that is why you have to be caring with yourself --not overly demanding--not a bully--not attached to results---And also i would not do anything that causes unwholesome physical pain--like your wrists, shoulders in Lolasana--after late nights, evening meals, family time, etc.......that means you have to get INVENTIVE figure alternate, safe, non harming ways to approach the same subject------investigate.........and also make sure you spend plenty of time doing some of aspects of the practice--back and forward bends!- where you do find more ease, more natural confidence--less struggle, less resistance, less dread, less grinding, more bliss and natural stillness...............OM!
