Practise Makes Perfect

After learning classical dance for seven years, I still didn’t feel confident enough to teach it. Instead, I spent years teaching semi-classical and contemporary dance, which both my students and I thoroughly enjoyed.

When I became pregnant, I had to discontinue both dancing and teaching. After five years, I joined a nearby Western contemporary dance class to brush up on my skills. To my surprise, I found learning far more enjoyable than teaching. The instructors at the studio were paid handsomely, and their classes were full, with 25 students in each batch.

Curious about their journey, I assumed these instructors must have trained for over a decade to achieve such expertise. One day, I asked my instructor, “How long did you train in this dance form?”

The instructor proudly replied, “For three years.”

I was shocked. “How is this even possible?” I inquired. “How did you become so skilled in just three years? Normally, it takes many years to master.”

He explained, “It wasn’t just three years. We practiced for three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening every day, continuously for three years without fail. It wasn’t easy. Almost everyone got injured at some point, but we kept pursuing it through hot and cold climates and difficult circumstances.”

I realized how challenging it must be to practice dance for 5 to 6 hours daily. His commitment made me reflect on my own passion – meditation. If I could apply the same level of discipline to my meditation practice, I could reach a deeper level of mastery.  

Passion drives us to persevere, no matter how hard the journey. Without that inner spark, such dedication would feel impossible. Inspired by my instructor’s story, I set a schedule for myself to practice meditation regularly. While not as intense, I knew what needed to be done to achieve my goals.