Our family was as athletic and competitive on a casual basis as the Kennedy's playing a game of football in Maine. No matter what the event, the goal was to WIN! Or to figure out a way to sabotage a race with my brother if I knew I could not beat him (tripping over shoelaces, etc.).

Needless to say I was overwhelmed with the possibility of''failur'' when I watched my fellow Yoga practitioners twist this way and that.

Today, I am able to feel awe when I observe someone taking a pose to a very advanced stage and simultaneously be pleased with myself for where I am able to bend and breath comfortably.

As far as''taking a pose to a comfortable level of discomfort''this finally settled into my awareness while enduring an especially twisty, bending, rambunctious Yoga workout. I heard,''when you come to the pain, pause, breath, and then go into it deepe''. I was able to stretch out my legs, grasp my toes with my hands and touch my head to my knees while breathing (without collapsing my sacrum) and go deeper with each exhale. I was aware of the folds of my tummy smishing up against my flattening chest. I was aware of the beads of sweat balling up and dripping from my forehead. Even so, I was also aware of having gotten over myself enough to enjoy the ecstasy of taking this pose as far as possible by following my breath and letting myself just''b''.