Every few months, I pull out an old story for the students in my classes.

It goes like this:

In about 2017 or 2018, I was attending a yoga intensive week with Desiree Rumbaugh and her husband, Andrew Rivin. This was a 5-day intensive held in Encinitas, CA. We began our morning at 9, took a break at noon. We returned that year at 2pm for another 3 hours. (I say ‘returned that year’, since now there is a 3-hour break for lunch which allows those from out of town to visit the beach.)

The morning session one day involved backbends. I remember my mat was next to a young man (and Yoga Teacher) from Arizona who had skills. Watching him move, you could tell he worked hard at his practice. During the course of a camel pose variation, Desiree asked the young man “___?___, how do you refine your poses?” His answer: “One step at a time.”

Why would I remember that?

Because it speaks volumes to me. Rather than attack a pose in a ‘one and done’ manner, he chose to work a pose piece by piece, refining and perfecting it to the best of his ability over a period of time. You might say breaking it down, if needed, to approach it with more ease.

So, when we are doing a challenging pose or transition, I bring that story out, dust it off and share it. Many may have heard it many times, but - if they are like me - no one tires of hearing it.

It is telling people that they can succeed at poses - challenging or not, modified or not - if they take their time, work the needed muscles, and create movement in the needed joints.

Some days I need a story like that to keep me inspired, hopeful and moving forward.

FYI, last year when attending another, shorter workshop with Desiree and Christina Sell, I met this teacher again. I asked his name and told him he was famous in Fallbrook (at least in the yoga classes I teach). Today, his name has escaped me. I hope that when I join Desiree and Christina in early May for another 3-day workshop, I will have the opportunity to meet him again, refresh my memory and be inspired again by his method.

That means you may hear this story again !!!