the long pattern
sitting on the porch last night with my dear friend and neighbor kim, we were talking about yoga and different levels of repetition and variation. she mentioned that she had this one yoga instructor who's class, tone of voice, and instruction rarely, if ever, changed. and she said that she recognizes that you cannot hold people to this unchanging standard - in yoga or in life. and that maybe it is best to just say "do whatever you want." but then, you could do that at home, no?
the words "long pattern" popped into my head - making me think of the balance between repetition and variation. structure and freedom. obviously if someone is coming to a yoga class, they want to be there, and they are looking for instruction. and some people would easily benefit from lots of structure, others from a free flow.
this discussion hit on a point within myself - i need structure, but i yearn to break free from it. it is like i need a long pattern. structure in there somewhere - something to count on - but lots of room to move and explore within that structure or those "limitations." (quotes because i happen to think that limitations can be a blessing in a lot of cases - but that is my saturnine nature showing.)
these drives are often at odds within me. i strive to balance them. to find the long pattern for my own life.
