It's All Relative

It was a small class at yoga this morning...only three of us plus the instructor. Perhaps the rain gave the rest an excuse to sleep in. Whatever the reason, it was nice to have plenty of room and not have to worry around where the person next to you was when you started swinging your arms and legs.

The down side, however (and there always is one, isn't there?), was that the other two students are younger and have been doing yoga much longer than I have. Translate that as they are stronger and more flexible. I know it's not a competition but I was feeling a little inadequate. While I struggled to maintain my balance, they seemed to move effortlessly from Warrior III to what the instructor called a kite pose (swing one arm down and the other up, rotating the chest out and still remaining on the one leg) and finally to a Standing Split and back to Warrior III. No one in our class looks as good as the professional in the last link, believe me. Where was the gal with whom I usually exchange eye rolls at moves like this because she has a harder time with them than I do? But I kept on plugging away, challenging myself even if it wasn't at the same level as my classmates.

Afterwards, I headed for the treadmill, figuring I might as well rack up my miles with one trip to the gym rather than come back later if it was going to continue to rain. Mornings in the gym have an entirely different vibe than late afternoons; lots more seniors than the young college and military guys I see when I go at 3pm or 4pm. It doesn't matter either way...I plug in my iPod and tune them all out.

I was about 1.75 miles in when a guy about my age climbed on the treadmill next to me. We exchanged a smile and a nod but both of us stuck to our own routine. His pace was slower and he only stayed on the machine for maybe 15-20 minutes then he was gone.

When I came off the machine, he was in the back of the room again, this time on a stationary bike. How far did you go? he inquired, and I told him four miles. And you raise the elevation too? he asked. Just to 2, I replied, and in increments. He shook his head as if amazed by this information. I'm impressed, he said.

I couldn't help but think back to my feelings of inadequacy in the class earlier. Who knew I was going to be looked at with envy just a short time later. It was a good reminder that we all have our levels of fitness we're striving to achieve. The important thing is that we're out there trying.

Comments

[Suzeyq]

Yes, exactly! My motto that is on the back of one of my running tshirts is... don't be last. Somedays, that is all I strive for
;-)

[Jan C.]

Brenda, I can't even do Warrior III without falling over in 15 seconds or less, and I'm 52 with several years of yoga under my belt. If I tried to rotate sideways, everyone in the general vicinity would go down like a row of dominoes! I feel quite inadequate when everyone else stands on one leg like they were born that way, as I waver and struggle. On the other hand, my legs are very flexible and I can do a mean triangle pose. Probably the thing I should be working on more than improving my balance is improving my ability to be who I am in the moment. Like you, I find it hard not to compare myself with others in class, even though I know we are not supposed to be looking and judging!