“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” Goethe/unknown
And so, the last yoga class of 2011 began: Saturday morning in a packed room, I'm wondering how any of us will get into our yoga poses without punching our neighbors. "2012", Anne, the owner of Ann Green Yoga tells us "is the year of being true to ourselves" and as I reflect back on my last few years, I hope this rings true for me. If 2011 was the year of self-discovery and healing, 2012 could be the year of moving forward and being true to those discoveries.
The room gets warm quickly as Ann skillfully directs us through a flow of poses that confines us to our mat spaces and away from our neighbors. I am lost in deep breathing and relaxation when I hear her ask us to now lift our arms off the mat. I become aware that I'm in an awkward, contorted pose. I hesitate. I don't think anyone else has obeyed her orders either, as she has to repeat herself. I'm fairly certain that if I do what she says, I'll end up toppling to the ground in a not very graceful, or yogic way. Finally, she says: 'Do it; there are more difficult things in your life than airplane pose. You can do this'.
Airplane pose? Well, that's not that hard. I lift up my arms. There is no going back, I will either land in a heap on the ground, or this will work out. I find myself balanced perfectly over my right leg. I don't topple over. The class moves on.
As the class finishes and for the rest of the day, I can't help but think how hard it is to move to the next adventure sometimes. Into what seems like the incredible unknown, especially when the current adventure, like our contorted yoga pose, feels so difficult. Is the trick merely identifying what is next and then moving into it without hesitation? Like Goethe wrote: 'the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too'.
I wish you all the best for 2012 and the courage to lift your hands off the mat to get to your next adventure, even when your current predicament is feeling precarious. Because truly, that may be just the right moment to move on. Namaste.
