(Im)Patience
Written by Jet de Kreij
I must be honest with you, I’m not that type of yogi that enjoys the process every minute. Even though I traveled the world to do a yoga teacher training course and follow yoga retreats. I’m not saying I don’t like yoga: I love it, but sometimes you need (a lot of) patience during practices. That’s probably the problem: I don’t have much patience. I want to be able to do a difficult pose immediately. Yes, I know that it takes repetitive practice to get better at a skill. But I don’t want that to be the truth. Same with meditation. When am I finally enlightened!
After more than 10 years of practicing yoga and 6 years of meditation, I am still scared of the hard work and the commitment it would involve. Sometimes I’m surprised by the dark feelings of criticism, fear and anger. But I faced up my fears. Yes, in some classes I still feel a building impatience and I’m getting frustrated. And sometimes it’s a real torture. But yoga brought me more than feeling impatience: living more mindfull, accepting that I have to try a hundred times before I can do a headstand (which is similar for other things in life) and don’t rush. In other words, have patience and enjoy the process. Sometimes it’s still hard to finish a 75-minute class when my head is saying I have to do other things or when I can’t do an asana. However, after these hard classes I, always, feel much better. Yes, always. And that’s for me the biggest gift I’ve found in yoga. It feels like a reward. I’m living way more mindfull now and I think I have a little more patience, after all those years. So if you are that type of yogi like me: go to that class, face those fears and/or impatience and get that good feeling.
Need a little suggestion? If you are able to, I encourage you to go explore the world for different yoga experiences. There are many places in the world where you can practice yoga and meditation, whether it’s in the middle of the rice fields or in the middle of the city in Utrecht. I’ve learned through my journey in Thailand (especially during my teacher training course) to be patient and enjoy the process.
Jet
About the author
Jet de Kreij
You’ve probably seen Jet around, she has been a core member of our Yoga Moves host team for a while now. Jet has been practicing yoga for 10 years and completed her 200-hour Vinyasa Teacher Training 7 years ago. Jet’s “home studio” is the Yoga Moves HOT, you can say “hi” to her the next time you come to take a Hot class!