Mind games

Isn't our brain a wonderful thing? It seems to contain a wee voice in our head that constantly talks to us. Usually it is critical or full of reasons why you can't do something and this is a daily challenge, even to someone as positive as me. This morning was a perfect example. I was in my yoga class and being pushed hard. At times I though my muscles were going to snap but my teacher kept telling me that if I breathed then the oxygen would help the muscle stretch. In the meantime my brain was screaming at me to stop. Nothing snapped. It got worse when I went upside down, that really confused me but again the voice kept giving me negative feedback. "Just breath Derek" I was being told - so I did. The mind plays games with you and this kind of practise is going to be good for the desert when my mind and body are telling me I can't go on any longer. But if I can breath and silence my mind then I will have the best chance of achieving the seamingly impossible and that's worth working hard for. It will be relentless with 5.5 marathons over 7 days carrying a 10kg rucksack, and in the end, ignoring the false signals and focusing on breathing to feed the muscles will get me there. Why not try working on your breathing when you feel under stress? It's a great way to relax. Have fun.