LESSONS IN LIMITS

There are philosophies that say you can be who you want, have what you want, and do what you want, just as long as you think the right thoughts and remain positive. The sky is your limit - so they say.

What this means is that, apparently, as long as you apply your mind rightly, whatever you dream you can achieve, from putting your leg around the back of your head, to effortlessy surfing 70 feet waves in Hawaii, Of course this is small fry when compared to reducing carbon emissions quickly enough to save the world, and, if you so wish, providing good quality healthcare for the masses in no time at all.

In the face of this, Reality is a tough task master. As I read in a newspaper this morning, opposition (and even same-party politicans) and world leaders prove as easy to herd as a bunch of angry, wet cats. Seven years into a yoga practice and more than a few bodies will still not have the flexibility required to fold easily into a foward bend.

Its not all bad news though. What is becoming increasingly clear to me, is that if you do focus your attention on a result, what you get is - progress in the right direction - no matter how large or powerful the seeming obstacles, including fillubustering republicans, and Chinese leadership obsfurcation.

Astonishing progress, if you are lucky, work hard enough and have the right skillset, or maybe even have mastered the positive thinking paradigm. Halting progress with lots of hiccups and set backs seems to be more the norm though.

For most of us this version of reality is good news. Using the example of your yoga practise, what it means is that we can gracefully accept the fact that we are still unable to master the astanga jump through, or put our legs behind our head, as being a totally valid Part of the Process called life.

We can of course work on our skills, and sometimes even, if our goal is realistic for us, actually achieve these attributes.

Even, if we don't, what we definitely will get is - more flexible. Also, and perhaps more importantly, the additional mind, body benefits, help create an all-round more positive life, flowing in the right direction - now.

This is not to knock limitless thinking. However, if you do want to achieve something extraordinary in your life, or your yoga practise - you may just find that your old mental habits, stiff muscles and external world conditions prove somewhat tougher opponents than often expected. A lot of hard work maybe required to get you where you want to go, and even then, there are no guarantees.

However, if you carry on regardless of your obstacles, you will probably end up learning a healthy balance between acceptance of what is, and working for a positive future. On top of that you will probably get a lot more positives than you initially bargained for. In the case of yoga, a fun, healthy, and non destructive way of improving your body and mind's strength and flexibility , without expecting to be perfect, straight away, or even ever

Is yoga for you? try a class and find out. Visit www.loveyoga.co.uk for more information and to book your place