Bruce Lee and Me

Posted on by yogashraddha

Some of you may not know who Bruce Lee is. I haven’t been a big fan of the fighting movies he starred in, but let’s say that Bruce Lee was a ferocious beast on screen. He died aged 33 in 1973. Apparently, he’s still known to today’s teenagers half a century after his death.

The other day, during practice with my young yoga students at the refugee center, Jona Khan, a well-versed and self-assured Afghan boy, told me, with his good grasp of English, that I reminded him of ‘Bruce Lee’s sister.’

The others giggled in agreement and seemed to think that this was a top description of the yoga teacher in front of them. As compliments go, it was mixed, to say the least. 

This must have come to Jona’s mind after a series of simple core practices, such as the boat pose (navasana) – a seated balance in which the legs are raised and form a V with the upper body and the arms stretched out horizontally in front. 

I often practice core strength with them because many of these teenagers lack both that and endurance. Even the most agile and athletic in each class, will sag and relax in their asana, sooner rather than later. That is true for boys as well as girls.

I try to remember my own kids as teenagers and it’s probably rather natural. They also showed little tenacity and endurance outside the football pitch or the running track. A healthy and strong core allows us to stand proud and is essential in all movements.

It holds the structure together. In yoga, we say that strength emanates from the centre (the core) and radiates out to the limbs. Which is why, I defend and live up to my new epithet as Bruce Lee’s sister. 

Warm greetings,
Emily

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