An inspiring quality to cultivate a beautiful mind is curiosity. Curiosity is a quality of the mind that requires inquisitiveness, playfulness and a healthy attitude to risk all at once:

Being inquisitive assumes both the ability to pause which indicates self control and emotional regulation; and an open mind which means we are willing to consider all options, and all opinions ie coming from a non-judgmental mind. In mindfulness, inquisitiveness is a state of awareness, an expansion state willing to explore and open to all outcomes, irrespective of self judgment. When practising Yoga, physical limitations and ease tend to trigger or flatter the ego. When we practise with a curious, aware and inquisitive mind, then we are open to the experience and willing to grow from it. A physical practice can bring momentary discomfort:  being willing to be curious about sensations allows to quieten the mental chatter in the knowledge that sensations will pass (as long as safely practiced). Discomfort is all the more intolerable when we are not sure whether that discomfort is safe or normal. So skill, knowledge and safety are paramount in allowing a relaxation response, especially when using Yin postures with support and longer holds.

Playfulness is another facet of curiosity which might involve embracing another way of doing things, or practising certain poses. All comments are valid for Yoga practice as well as daily life, whether mental or physical. When presented with change or a new version of what we know, or another stage, we have got 2 options, either to embrace or to resist. As Eckhart Tolle famously said ‘What you resist, persists' – Sometimes, we may need to pause and ask ourselves what the story of our mind is at that moment in time: are we embracing what is being offered to us or resisting? are we going towards or against. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? is this helping or not? Playfulness assumes that we are embracing new experiences with light heartedness, being willing to explore, denoting a certain flexibility, and willingness to smile, laugh and enjoy. In a Yoga class, it may be that we use bricks to practice fun group poses when the bricks are passed from a person to another, from the hands to the feet, or from one hand to the other. This is fun.

The last facet of Curiosity I explored in my Yoga classes this month was a Healthy Attitude to risk.  Yoga needs to present everyone with the right challenge for their experience, strength and flexibility. Failing this, it is possible to injure as Yoga poses can include inversions, arm balances, and deep twists and contorsions. Without going to advanced poses, a Twist or Pistol Squat can represent a challenge. Using Blocks and Straps can provide support whilst practising various stages of a deconstructed movement. This allows you to understand what limitations you may have had. For instance, lunging forward from a Dog Pose with hands raised on bricks provide insight as to what area of the body is now benefiting from the extra space allowed by longer arms: are we allowed more space to flex the lower spine, is the space supporting short hamstrings, or are your arms too short? This is a similar finding to suddenly finding yourself restricted by an injury, informing your practice through your newly found limitations. When I hurt my lower back and could not flex my lower spine as much, I found that I could not lunge through anymore. This was surprising as I thought hamstrings were the one determining element in lunging forward. Blocks and Straps can in other words help you learn about your own body and also help you direct your attention to other elements of a particular movement. Eventually all aspects of a movement will benefit through awareness, strength, flexibility and skill (technique and coordination). In life, outsourcing (or getting help with) one particular stage of a task may well be what allows you to progress and leap forward in your work too. You might be able to achieve so much more when one element is taken care of, and you can take your attention to all other elements, eventually achieving synergy.