To me, I think the first lesson of yoga is getting beyond "can" and "can't." It's like inverse Yoda: there is only try. Also, it's YOUR practice.

My teacher is fond of saying "the body is clay." It took me the better part of a year to get my upper arms to my head in Venus lock. That isn't a complicated or difficult position, but it takes some flexibility in the shoulder girdle. I just went to where I could and used the mechanics that she cued. Now, they just go.

My feet aren't near strong enough yet to do downward dog or Mountain correctly (as indysteel points out). But they're so much stronger and more flexible than they were when I started yoga. Little by little.

With my injury, I'm in a place for the first time where there are things I know I can't even try (for now), even modified. I still don't watch other people in the class, much. Monday when they did arm balances and today when they did handstands, I took the opportunity to work on my headstands. When they did backbends at the wall and then Wheel, I did Camel and Bow.