The Ground we Play on

I love to nordic ski but haven't done much of it in the past 5 years. Partly because of residual balance challenges following brain surgery in 2011 that make the world a little wobbly for me, partly because of my problematic right shoulder, which twinges with too much repetitive movement. But this snow! I mean, really, this snow..... Yesterday my dear friend Nancy—who is kindness and patience personified and a kick-ass skier as well—agreed to go out with me, to go slow and be patient. It was glorious. The snow was soft and slow, since TA trails hadn't been groomed yet. I found myself grinning and just so happy to be out. When I asked her, Nancy gave me some simple pointers, but I never ever felt "corrected" or judged for sloppy form. It made me think about yoga, about form, about play, about teaching. I am sore in my shoulder today from doing something different, and I feel a sense of kinship with people who take their first yoga class—elite athlete or its complete opposite, a new student is likely to feel sore the day following that first class. We are "waking up" habitually stiff or weak muscles and creaky joints and the next day, we feel it. I also felt a connection with the new student's first experience of Savasana and the deep and satisfying glow that saturates our bodies, minds and hearts with wellbeing at the end of practice and sends us back into the world a little happier and more grounded. I definitely had a "Snow-vasana" glow after skiing.How can we make our yoga practice as playful and joy-inducing as an hour gliding on perfect new snow? Yoga is bound up in the serious business of self-inquiry, but when we take ourselves too seriously, we lose the thread of joy, not to mention, plain old fun. And, how do those of us who teach offer guidance into that world where something that is often really hard, is also really fun, without degrading the deep seriousness of the practice itself? Something to ponder today while I play on my mat in preparation for Sunday's flow class.Hm. But before I get down to practice, I might just get out again in that glorious snow. The sun is shining, the air is still. Maybe snowshoes, today...There are lots of opportunities to play on your mat, including Deb Heimann's class this evening.And new classes begin in Thetford (see box at right) in March and April.May your weekend be filled with joy and play and just the right amount of challenge