impossible things
Thursday, February 18, 2010 "There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Lewis Carroll
I have this quote on a magnet on my fridge. It has become one of those things, part of the clutter, that I just don't notice anymore. But, this morning, as I was staring into the empty fridge, cursing myself for not getting milk yesterday, it just JUMPED out at me.
I think yoga makes you believe in impossible things. For example, last night in one of my students came up after class and said that she touched her fingers in gomukasana for the first time. She was so excited!
I remember the first time I touched my hands in reverse namaste. Or the first time I did a headstand or got up in bhakasana. Or EVERY time I do a handstand.
I also like how the Queen refers to believing in impossible things as practice. My practice, yoga, makes my impossible beliefs happen.
What impossible things do you believe in?
Reader Comments (8)
I LOVE this post. How applicable to yoga. I just had an "impossible" moment in class the other day - I bent my knee and leaned back in Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (king pigeon) and lo and behold, my foot touched my head! I couldn't believe it...there was my ponytail...I could feel it with my toes! : )
I believe in arm balances, headstand without the wall, and handstand, although they all feel impossible now : )
Desikachar says "yoga is to attain what was previously unattainable". That is my favourite yoga quote, the one that sums this whole practice up to me the most.
Because it's different for everyone. For some attaining what was previously unattainable may be complex forearm balances or padasana. For others it just may be the ability to touch their toes.
And in that the impossible becomes possible. A little miracle every day
What a great post! I bet there is a whole lot more Yoga in Alice... Perhaps your first novel LOL.
I am the opposite of Jamie - I believe in King Pigeon and those other deep backbends despite my scoliosis and undbendy lower back!
:)
for myself, the impossible was touching my toes... then full wheel, and now... well a whole bunch of stuff.
practicing imagination is such a wonderful idea. i love this quote :)
I think about thoughts a lot. Weird, huh? Some of my favorite quotes are about thoughts. I just posted one on my other page today, "What you think about expands." Impossible thoughts are possible, if you believe in them! I LOVE THIS POST, and I LOVE Alice in Wonderland. Thank you! Happy Thursday! ;-)
Jamie--congratulations! I love it when we finally achieve something we've been working so hard toward. It is the best feeling! And, I don't know from experience, but I imagine feeling the ponytail with the foot is also a good feeling :D
Rachel--thank you for sharing the quote and the beautiful comment. Little miracles everyday indeed!
Lagitane--ah...good idea. Not sure I have the energy to run with it though! Yay for backbends!
Eco--ya, a lot of it for me is still impossible but I like working toward it. Thanks for the kind comment :)
Heather--thinking about thoughts is not weird. It is who we are...our thoughts are so much of us. I really like that quote too. I'm glad you enjoyed the post :) I had fun writing it.
Lewis Carroll was pretty brilliant. I love the tone I hear in my head when I imagine the queen saying this. Probably a good habit to get into, imagining 6 impossible things before breakfast. What a way to start the day!
I've always wanted to drop back into a backbend. May start working on it next month (after I finish training for a triathlon that happens next Sunday). So there's a couple of impossibles on the calendar!
Don't take that quote down!
Brenda--ohmigosh! That is amazing! Good luck to you!