“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge, you can see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center.”
~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
When I teach asana at Prana Power Yoga and beyond, I talk about “playing your edge” on your mat. Sometimes students ask me what this means. Here’s a story from “real life” to capture this concept.
My dear friend is having some big-time knee issues. I won’t get into the whole history for confidentiality’s sake, but suffice it to say, my Sister’s had it rough with her knee situation.
She’s tried everything under the sun. And she is very open””so if there’s a treatment she’s heard of, she’s tried it. Yet still, no dice. The darn injury keeps resurfacing.
I’ve told her that Louise Hay suggests knee injuries are about “moving forward in life.” She knows it’s true, but sometimes that unconscious mind is so strong that it overrides the conscious mind and the mental body. Often times, actually.
So although she wants to be better so badly and tries everything, no luck””so far.
After recently spending a week with our family, she jetted off to Colorado to see (yet another) knee specialist. (She’s also seen one in Chicago many times””she’s very open and travels from her home in New York to wherever just to find healing). I emailed her to see how it was going, and she said:
“The doctor is wonderful. Boulder, Colorado is the Silicon Valley of stem cell procedures. It’s cutting-edge stuff but also quite overwhelming at times. I am here now with an immobilizer brace that I’ll wear for the next few days. I feel very blessed but very emotional. Please send big time healing vibes.”
And I responded with:
“Hang in there! Remember that everything new is overwhelming.That’s what cutting-edge is and why there aren’t many people doing it! I know because I abide in it on a regular basis. The Universe is always rewarding those playing their edge. The Universe loves it.”
And there you have it. Yet another real-life story to describe the concept of playing your edge.
They are everywhere, so look around! Real-time, real-life Superheroes are all around you, playing their edge, facing their fears and coming out on the other side””transformed.
Like you. You are a Superhero too, remember?
If you’ve forgotten, no worries. Get on yo’ mat.
Have the best day ever!
Namaste!
Taylor plus 5
Taylor Wells, M.A., M.Ed., RYT, owns Prana Power Yoga, Inc., super-mom.com and Prana Super-mom Consulting. She is also a Boston Herald columnist and blogger, United Nations Yoga Peace Ambassador, activist, and happy Super-mom of 5 kids.