Prefences and Tendencies

I'm always down for a paschimottanasana or any forward fold. It's a place where I feel open, safe, and relaxed. And while I'll always incorporate a few folds into my practice, I also try to bring in a few poses that are more challenging for me. Hip and shoulder opening, backbends, anything strength building, inversions... to name a few.

Part of yoga is to practice noticing your preferences. Not only in postures but in transitions, the way in which you enter and exit the pose, and the movements in between. Maybe you always interlace and clasp the hands one way, or put one leg in front in sukhasana, maybe you prefer to start with one side vs the other, or favor the right side over the left...

One way isn't necessarily right or wrong, but it's important to notice, ask yourself why you do things the things you do. Sometimes we gravitate towards spaces that are more comfortable, poses that are easier to soften and open into. And sometimes we choose a pose that's more difficult for our individual body, a place that is stiff or tight, but an area we've actively chosen to work on. What do you notice? What are your tendencies and what are you looking to get out of the pose and your practice?