I teach a class called willPower & grace® and my yoga students say it’s like bootcamp, and my bootcamp students say it’s like yoga. My yoga students like the strength and cardio work. My athletes and cyclists like the flexibility and balance training. Everyone wants to be challenged right at their edge. Everyone wants to feel good, have fun, and feel more at home in their own skin. They come back because something about it works for them. And I’m lucky enough to be their instructor and guide.
I tell them to try lots of classes at the studio, because cross training is good for the mind and body, and the class they love most might be something they haven’t tried yet. What feels good? Which teachers engage your mind and heart, as well as your muscles? You look for clues, you ask others what they know, but in the end you are the one who knows if it works for you.
Some things you need to find out for yourself.
This is true about meditation. I read this piece: studies show that not everyone likes the same kind of meditation, and that people will do the kind of meditation that they like.
My first reaction was, “Um, well yeah, of course. This is news?”
My second reaction was, “So. . . hopefully more people will try more kinds of meditation! Because there are soooo many kinds. And hopefully people are listening to what their body tells them about whether they like it or not. And hopefully they are finding the kind of teacher and class and style that they like, so that they enjoy it and continue to practice.”
If you tried meditation and you weren’t really into it, that’s ok. It doesn’t mean you suck at meditation or that it’s not worth the effort, it just means that kind didn’t work for you. Keep looking. (It’s good for you.)
Figure out what works for you. Always. Remember that what works for you may be different than what works for your friends, your partner, your parents, your colleagues, and the people you most admire. They can tell you what works for them, and they might say things like, “I’ve tried all these things, and so I can tell you how it is and what you should do because I know from experience. Listen to me and I’ll save you the trouble of having to find out for yourself.”
They mean well. But you can’t always use the notes from someone else’s life. You have to try things yourself, find your own way, figure out what works for you. After all, having experiences is why you’re here. That’s what living is for.
Be curious. Savor all of it.
Kim Nicol 