Instant gratification is the new mantra that we, as a civilisation, are living by. The need for an experience, a service, a product, or even a relationship to provide a hormonal high and the resulting feelings of grandeur and omnipotence has infested young minds and old alike. We have lost touch with a phenomenon called patience, where we invest our time, energy and effort, and wait for growth and progress. I see an agitated, almost aggressive, impatience for gratification, even amongst those who try a few sessions of yoga; they become angry because they are not able to see results instantly. To paraphrase a popular writer, there are no shortcuts to any place worth going, be it a state of mind or a posture.
A point in case is the seemingly intimidating lotus posture. According to one of my students, ‘Even the half-lotus is stressful just to look at.’ But if we choose to, our persistent practice can shape our joints, muscles and structure, progressing from stiffness to freedom and ease of movement. Think of how over a matter of time, soft and yielding flowing water shapes hard and unyielding rocks into beautiful formations like the Grand Canyon. That is what we are truly capable of.
Prep workSit on a yoga mat. Place your arms behind you with your palms on the ground.
Stretch your legs out and rotate your ankles clockwise and anti-clockwise 10 times.
Next, bring the soles of the feet together and let your knees fall outwards and sideways.Keep a distance of six inches between your heels and groin.
Move your knees up and down as you hold your feet.
Ardh-Padmasana (Half Lotus Pose)Bend your left knee and place the sole of the left foot against the base of the right inner thigh, close to the groin.
Give a moment for the left knee to orient itself in the new position.
Now bend the right knee and bring the right heel close to the front of the left hip.
If the limb and joints are too stiff, do only what your body is letting you, for now.
Place the back of your hands on their respective knees.
Close your eyes and hold the posture for 30 seconds to a minute.
Repeat the same for the other leg.
