I had the immense pleasure of doing a SUP-camping trip with my daughter a couple of weeks ago. It’s been a long while since i’ve been on big water, let alone on a board loaded with camping gear! I’ve been active my whole life – hiking, biking, skiing, running for a bit… There’s a difference between saying: ‘I’m a skier.’ and, ‘I ski.’ If you know, you know – one dabbles as a hobby and one contains a sense of being or identity. Funnily enough, I just realized, I don’t think i’ve ever called myself a yogi (ha!?). But i do say: ‘I’m a paddler.’ For better or worse, if my life lived closer to big water, i’d be on it most days.
Paddling and what it taught me about my asana practice was one of the things that had me changing how i move on my mat, because paddling insisted I move differently off of my mat. How I practice now made getting back on a loaded board after a long hiatus a joy. Carrying the gear. Inflating the board. Paddling loaded in wind. Moving on the board. Paddling. There isn’t anything about it that happens in alignment. Or without the earth moving underneath!
My practice made me feel…
Strong. Confident. Somewhat agile;). Focussed. And calm on the board.
Because my deal now, is to playfully move in all sorts of ways with a curious yoga-mindset of ‘what ifs’ that may or may not have anything to do with the shape of an asana. What if we intentionally throw ourselves off balance? What really happens when we move our knee past our ankle? What if your own angle of success looks completely different than a plate # in LoY – (and you’re ok with that)?
What if your practice is a remembering of what it’s always meant to have been…? Making life experiences off the mat more fun, open and accessible? And, when life experiences throw us off balance, as they will – better able to adapt?
Curious, playful exploration that brings you home to your body in a way that has you moving with more control on the mat and greater freedom out in the wild. No matter whether you’re dabbling in or identifying with whatever brings you joy.
My annual summer workshop is confirmed as a go. We’re back in the Soar Studio space this summer, so there’s still room for some last-minute signups. The complimentary hike this year will be in Fernie Provincial Park. Easy, shaded hiking where the creeks are still running and there’s a wee view point to stop for a snack.
Here’s this year’s timing:
Friday
Hike: 10:30am
Yoga: 5:30 – 8pm
Saturday
10am-1pm & 3-5:30pm
Sunday
10am-1pm
Feel free to share – or email me at: samlloyd.yoga@samlloydyoga to sign up!
Be Curious.
Come Play.
Love,
Sam
Sam Lloyd Yoga 