“A very subtle difference can make the picture or not.”

Annie Leibovitz

The big events in life pack power – weddings, funerals, anniversaries, birthdays.  They tend to be seen as life changing markers in life  Yet it’s the subtle experiences that shape us into creating the grand ones.  Those subtle life changers are happening on a regular basis – even possibly right this very moment.

For example,

Your warm glance toward someone may be the beginning of a life changing relationship.

Your kind words may be the catalyst for someone in deciding between a negative or positive action.

The way you react to a child’s behavior may influence the child’s actions later.

The way you read a poem may lift the spirits of someone who is depressed.

Subtle movements can be quite powerful.

I’ve taught yoga for decades and it was (and is) the subtleties of the postures that make the difference. Although so much emphasis can be put on conquering that headstand per say, there’s really no ending to it – no flag placed on the mountain top. By this I mean you’re continually watching and listening as your body speaks to you through every step in and out of the pose.

The more difficult the pose, the more the ego gets in the way.  So, your capacity to truly listen to the subtle aspects of your being becomes more complicated. When that big as a house ego says,  Aha!  I can do headstand!  I’m cool,  subtleties disappear. But it’s the subtleties, the humility in the acceptance of where you are right now, that opens the body further into exploring the deeper aspects of who you really are.  Going up into a headstand is simply a feat.  Actually listening while in every aspect of the pose takes one to the next level of understanding.

In this type of listening questions come up:  What is my breath like?  Is it calm?  Shallow? Steady? Erratic? Am I balanced?  Is my neck taking on too much pressure?  Are my arms strong?  Are my stomach muscles engaged?  Is my back overarching? The questions, the self-discoveries, go on and on.

So, here’s comes a simple exercise to help you clearly experience a headstand type of strength in subtle form.  I saved it for the end so you can keep your eyes closed for a few moments after reading.  Go ahead and give this a try:

Close your beautiful eyes.

Relax your eyelids.

Listen to the wave of relaxation across your face.