“Optimist: Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s a cha-cha.” ― Robert Brault.
I suppose we all sometimes feel that we are stepping back… Whether at the level of humanity as a whole, in the political, social, or environmental spheres, or at an individual level—in our work, our relationships, or even our practices. After a phase of progress, we often experience a phase of regression—a backward movement, which I am sometimes tempted to call a “relapse”
Are these small regressions—which do not necessarily lead to collapse—essential, if not natural, moments in our evolution … like small cycles within the grand cycle of life ?
When it happens in my yoga practice, I question the origin and the reasons. I usually don’t find any answer that really feel satisfactory, but I try, as best I can, to remain equanimous and simply continue practicing. In other areas of life, it can be more confronting, and equanimity is much harder to achieve.
I love the positive attitude inspired by this quote (noted down a few years ago in a magazine) as it reminds me of the importance of a necessary, if not vital, lightness of being in life. Because no doubt, what matters is what we do with this backward movement… either the beginning of a fall or the quiet gathering of momentum, a step back to change perspective, readjust, and prepare to gracefully leap… elsewhere !
For life to unfold into beautiful (petites) dances… forward & backward 💃✨
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Massage treatments with Amina Mokrane 