Yoga: Just Take, and Taking a Step Forward

The cliché "taking a step forward in life" is known by some to mean that by doing something or having some experience our life changes or grows in a positive manner.

Steps can be thought of as being big or small, and sometimes many small steps forward will result in a big one having been achieved.

Sometimes what seems like a small step can in reality be a very big one. At the same time, while we may be making and taking many small and big steps forward, we may in other areas of our life be taking and making many steps backward and not even be mindful about it.

Almost anyone who has embraced Yoga and studied, practiced and applied its teachings consistently over a period of time will tell you that it was a big step forward for them in their lives.

It may have resulted in weakening and alleviating some long -term mental or physical disorder, changed the habitual indulgence in some behavior from one that was harmful and unwholesome to one that was constructive and joyful, and perhaps gave one greater insight so that their lives were more meaningful and fulfilling.

It may have made the dreary and boring job suddenly become one that was performed with greater enthusiasm and appreciation.

It may have changed a relationship from one that was tedious, tiring and frustrating to one that was truly open and sharing.

It may have made one more mindful about what their gifts, talents and potentials were, instead of keeping them in a state where they had low self -esteem and self -confidence.

Regardless of what one's individual experiences may be or may have been, Yoga does help people take a step forward in their life.

But in looking at this idea of taking a step forward in a more practical and everyday sense, our life is one of taking steps forward each day, as we walk and go from here to there.

When we take that step forward, we can make a quick change in how we position our legs so that not only do we take a step, but we make a change in our energy and consciousness.

We can take a small step forward and then raise the rear leg and grasp it by the ankle and all of a sudden we are cultivating greater strength and balance into our being as we become still and upright and slowly and mindfully raise our arm and watch our breathing.

We can take a longer step forward, say about three feet or more, and then bend the forward leg and keep the rear leg straight while raising our arms above our head and all of a sudden our small step forward has become the warrior posture, and we are strengthening legs, ankles, and shoulders while expanding our chest.

From this posture, we can bring our arms behind our back and interlock the fingers and bend forward, slowly raising the rear leg off of the ground, so that we are supporting ourselves on one leg only.

This strengthens the supporting leg considerably while at the same time cultivating mental and physical balance.

In taking one step forward physically, we can bring the rear leg up and along side the leg that leads and then with both legs together and on the floor, slowly bend forward and get the powerful therapeutic affects that the standing forward bend brings us.

And in taking a long step forward again, we can keep the front leg straight and locked and slowly bend ourselves down on top of it. This prepares us nicely for reverse standing postures.

The idea behind all of this is to understand that in something as commonplace and simple as a step forward we can easily go into a number of postures using a minimum of time and space while at the same time making a big step forward in our life.

2005 John C. Kimbrough

(John lives and teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. He can be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)