Can I be Gentle with Myself ? Questions in Downward Dog

Downward dog has always been my favorite yoga position-Well- it used to be
Before I decided practicing Vinyasa flow three times a week Just wasn't enough.
Before I breathed through real pain that turned to screaming pain
Before I disconnected from my inner wisdom that gently whispered
back off
easy does it...
Then turned to my  life long Mantra  
You have to keep going!

 
Today in downward dog

as my body let go

and my heels gently touched my mat

.my monkey mind hardly noticed,

while reminiscing on how easy it once was some 6 years ago

to just be  in this position

that now is a big challenge.

How defined and powerful my arms were then,

now soft and shapeless

.No Michelle Obama comparisons for me,

-just trembling arms,

as I breathe in rhythm

feeling thin rays of energy starting to move down my arms

like light shining through glass

Can I be Gentle with Myself?

and hang out here

present in my ever tiring body,

holding and releasing simultaneously

breathing in rhythm,

noticing the ease and comfort that slowly arrives

as the trembling recedes

and I slowly turn my troubled cervical region

slowly releasing on my exhale

Ahhh...

stretching my fingers

rocking my hands to an even deeper comfort and stability

Can I be Gentle with Myself?

and give myself permission in Child's Pose

to travel to that aqua blue water

feel its coolness and comfort.

or will my monkey mind interrupt yet again,

with To Do's

Should have's   and the like.

Can I Be Gentle With Myself?..........Can You?

PS I have no clue as to what happened to my font colors.

My hubby walked through the directions

to no avail

so here it is

in all its imperfections