Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

I have been absent from this blog for too long; perhaps I can ‘kick-start’ my writing and do a better job moving forward.

This would be the perfect time to say ‘I’m too busy’ — many of you know I do not like using that phrase. However, the past 4-6 weeks have thrown a lot my way. Downsizing our home (moving from Fallbrook to Fallbrook - that’s the truth not a typo); our large home and property are on the market; I’m teaching 8 classes each week plus individual sessions each weekday; and my husband fell, breaking 4 ribs and 2 lumbar transverse processes (painful!). It’s a lot, but things have seemed to work out with the help of family and friends.

So - about yoga - I will co-teach with one of the students in Sage’s current teacher training course this week. As we’ve corresponded about what and how to co-teach, I asked ChatGPT about the value of repetition in our yoga practice. I’ve known it is valuable, but never realized in how many ways it is of value. So far, I’ve learned that repetition:

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Serves several layers of learning at once — physical, neurological, mental, and even emotional.

Physically, it builds familiarity with movements as well as efficiency. Alignment becomes clearer, breath synchronizes to the movement, and muscles coordinate better. A pose becomes more accessible as the nervous system learns it.

Mentally, a pose becomes more familiar and one no longer has to worry about ‘what’s next’. One notices what is happening and the pose becomes a moving meditation.

Neurologically, repetition is how patterns become embodied. The brain strengthens pathways through repeated experience.

Emotionally, awareness is built - revealing that one day a pose feels open, the next day it may feel resistant.

The program finished it’s answer with “we don’t repeat because we already know something — we repeat because we are still discovering it.”

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I rarely use the program, but - this time - it expanded my awareness of repetition as a tool in our Yoga practice.

So much for today; off to a meeting.

Take care,