Summits and Savasanas

A week or two ago I embarked on my second mountain hike in Trinidad - the much anticipated high high peak of El Tucuche. I had heard that it was twice as hard as my previous hike (Paria Falls), which had kicked my butt, especially on the way down leaving me with blackened toes that are only now starting to look normal again. 

So after much deliberation choosing proper, extremely comfortable shoes I was feeling prepared and pumped to plunge into this next challenge. I was bracing myself for the worst based on the difficulty (but fun! honestly!) of Paria several months ago. Just imagining how hot and sweaty and huffy and puffy I'd soon be didn't make me all that excited, but I was looking forward to being in nearly untouched nature again. And in fact I was also looking forward to going through the discomfort of hiking in Trinidad heat and coming out the other side. I was looking beyond the inevitable icky parts and feeling reassured that afterwards I would enjoy the sweetness of cool water and a long shower. And deep rest. The kind of pure deep rest that can only be felt after approaching some kind of exhaustion. 

In exactly this way, the hike reminded me of a good old, sweaty, yoga session. The kind that makes your arms and knees quiver and your face (well mine anyway, blast my pink cheeks!) flush until you feel the pulse of your heartbeat in your skin. The hike was, as promised, straight UP. Right from the get go I was trying to keep my breathing steady as we stair-mastered our way up the steep mountain side. Just like those first sets of sun salutations that get your blood circulating. I liked smiling at everyone around as we silently acknowledged how hard we were all working. If we were passing someone, or being passed, the vibe was always supportive. 

By the time we got higher up into the thick of things I was in my element. The initial push was over and now the air was cooler, the cover of trees kept the trail shady. This is my kind of climate. Cool and not too sunny. I was feeling sprightly and nimble and still concentrating on making good foot holds and steadying myself with my hands in the muddy earth. This is the part of class where you are warmed up and practicing familiar poses that feel like home, fine tuning and bringing your breath and body into natural unison. Now I say I was feeling nimble which is true, but it was still a hell of a push to get our tushes to the top of this summit. And coming DOWN. That was an arduous task. Lots of concentration, willing ourselves not to slide full speed ahead down through the roots and leaves (and snakes I'm sure) on our butts. This was like the point in a yoga session where you are determined to work on your most challenging poses and are starting to feel your muscles tiring and your resolve wavering. But of course, much like the hike situation where you have no choice but to dig deep and maintain control and concentration so as not to slip and go plummeting down, you persevere and bring your body and mind to the brink of it's limit. 

And then we were done! We had made it! My legs were wobbly and my tummy was rumbling with hunger and thirst. We had arrived at one of my favourite parts - the heightened joy of simple things: a long drink of water and sitting. Ah sitting. Upon arriving home, digging into a plate of food, showering off the sweat, mud, burrs, leaves and any critters picked up along the way, and soon after falling blissfully asleep. This is that release into Savasana or corpse pose, lying back on the floor after a grueling yoga session. Letting all the concentration and effort now drop away, allowing the mind to expand farther and deeper than before you took your first breath on the mat. 

This beautiful hike with it's incredible view, sweet air, and intricately intertwined life forms reinforced the way I feel about why we do yoga. Or why we hike. Or why we do anything to take ourselves out of our daily comfort zones. Not only do the moments of difficulty teach you about yourself and how you deal with stress or hardship, it also makes the mundane seem magical once the hardship is over. It brings out the original beauty in simple everyday sensations. Yes I drink water and shower and sleep everyday. But I appreciate those things so much more after putting myself somewhere I am more thirsty, more dirty and more active than the rest of the hours in my days. 

This renewed appreciation for simple pleasures is a mind space of expansion. Which is why most yoga classes finish in Savasana. After narrowing the minds focus to one point (breathing, holding a pose, putting one foot in front of the other), letting go of that focus means the mind naturally expands back out with a wider scope. Taking you farther out of your usual habitual mindset. Taking you to a moment or more of pure presence.