THE ART AND GRACE OF TRANSITIONS

Sunday night standing in Lupo's, completely enraptured by the beautiful music of Iron and Wine, I couldn't help but notice the graceful way they transitioned between songs. While some bands end a song with a thank you and a small break before beginning the next; Iron and Wine creates an art of their transitions, they are songs unto themselves. As one reviewer writes "The songs and their interweaving transitions create a summery air that disappears into the forest for a lone sunny Sunday morning walk; sparrows chirping, blips of sun momentarily peaking through the fern branches whilst strolling below the shadows of the trees".

So, I starting thinking about the transitions between postures in yoga practice and the transitions between sports in triathlon. There is an art and grace in both of these spaces that that can be achieved through awareness.


In yoga we tend to focus on the actual postures and either ignore or rush through the small intimate places between. "The posture never ends. The illusion is that there is separation, levels of importance, beginnings and endings." Next time you are there, notice your inhale and exhale and work on bringing grace to your movement and honor to that space. You will be able to find flow, an unbroken meditation even in a non-flow class.


In triathlon, getting in/out of the transition area quickly and efficiently can cut time off your race and give you an advantage over your competition. The annals of triathlon lore are filled with transition disaster stories where racers of all levels gave back precious minutes in fumbling haste toward the next leg. The key lies in awareness: practice, preparation and visualization of that space and what to do when you are in it. Don’t think about or look at anything else. Concentrate solely on getting in and out as fast as possible. Find the art and grace in the middle of the race.


Great live songs by Iron and Wine:
Each Coming Night
He Lays in the Reigns
House by the Sea
Boy with Coin