Very recently I was assisting Sri Dharma at Kripalu. Not long before I had fallen on the ice and had hurt my back pretty badly, so I was unable to practice most postures. It was the third day of the immersion and the final asana class, and I was helping assist and adjust the other students.

It was during sarvangasana (shoulder stand) that I chose to do the pose since everyone seemed fine and it was a posture I could actually practice without pain. However, I had failed to think ahead to the next posture. Plow pose proved to be very painful and not a good position to put myself into which had not crossed my mind as I happily joined the others balancing on my shoulders.

Then it dawned on me, what about halasana? I thought to myself, “how I so wish I could just remain here in the shoulder stand”. Just as that thought was passing through my mind I heard Dharma cue, “now the plow pose, or if you would like just stay in the shoulder stand.” This about brought me to tears.

This is one of many examples of how incredibly receptive Sri Dharma is to our feelings, thoughts, and needs and how he always responds with the deepest compassion.

This post was written by Lyn Cellars
Dharma Yoga LOAY 800 hour certified, 1000 hour in progress | Vermont