Courage

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”
-Maya Angelou

A few days ago, a woman who regularly attends yoga classes remarked that something we did in a restorative class made her back feel better than ever. We talked about some of the possibilities, as I have had to be a bit more creative with the filled-to-the-brim Wednesday class. We often run out of props during restorative sessions so I now have half the class doing another pose as I try to keep transitions smooth,as well as beneficial.

While I believe that an exercise taken from the Egoscue method was responsible for her impressive relief, I had to credit this woman for her diligent practice and class attendance. Her faith and courage keeps her coming back, class after class.

The pose may not have been as effective for her a year or two ago, but practice and a willingness to progress laid the foundation. Then she said, "It takes time, but everything gets better and better as you go along!"

That must be the measure of a good habit or discipline: everything gets better and better. Psychologists, the positive ones, are finding that self-regulation can actually be strengthened like muscles. Self- regulation in one habit also tends to infect other areas of your life.

Back to one of my favorite mantras: It's not what you do once in a while that makes a difference, it's what you do over and over again.

Submitted to: Prevention Not Prescriptions, November 2009

Artwork: "Courage" by Julie Paschkis