Inside Yoga 99 (7/2/14)

For most people yoga is about stretching, which is true in many respects, but in fact, stretching is just one part of a holistic practice that touches every aspect of what it is to be a human being.

I am often told by a newcomer to yoga that they are not sure what they can do because they are not very flexible; and in some cases I am asked; “is it OK for me to join the class because I am not very flexible?”

I always say “of course you can join the class, and in fact, it really doesn’t matter if you do not feel very flexible.” What is important is that we learn to become aware of our body, breathing and mind. A quiet mind and paying attention to the present moment (ie the posture or action to be done at that very moment) and a flowing deep breath is what we seek and ask for in yoga.

We might have a flexible body that can get us into a deep forward bend, but if our mind is chattering away about something else and our breathing erratic and unsteady we have not perfected a posture nor the practice of yoga, while our neighbour who sits less forward (more stiff in the body) but is paying attention, breathing steadily and with a quiet mind is practising correctly.

So why do we seek to stretch and challenge ourselves so much in yoga if it’s not really about how flexible and strong we can become? This is a subtle paradox which yoga presents us with.

I think it is really about learning about who we are and what makes us tick. Take for example, someone who is driven and always pushing themselves? The lesson for them is that on one hand they learn to slow down and take it a bit easier, in order to avoid burn out and emotional fatigue; while on the other hand they need to explore their potential with the body and the breathing, by learning to get deeper into postures and learning more difficult positions, and also, on a meditative front, learning to sit longer and exploring stronger pranayama techniques.  If they are so used to pushing themselves, why not do this with something as beneficial as yoga, as they are still testing their boundaries and extending themselves to see how far they can go?

Once they have reached a certain point they return to an easier way of being, a gentler practice, maintained and ticking along nicely. The point is that some of us cannot rest until we have extended ourselves and if this is the case it makes sense to take this path. We need to know what is on the other side of the fence so that we can stay on our side more comfortably.

While for some of us, this is not important, and if we are content in this way, then this is fine, and this person will also find the yoga practice to suit them. And though they might not be the sort to climb a mountain, in their way, quietly and gently they are learning to extend themselves, because the journey within, through the meditative aspect of practice, is in many ways the harder journey.

Yoga is a mirror of our life in the world beyond its practice, so we use yoga as a training ground to learn about ourselves, challenge ourselves, nourish our mind and body, so that we can not only function more effectively in the outside world but enjoy it too. It is the practice that gives us the turbo boost and energy we need to operate in the world, more effectively and efficiently, and happily.

It is the same logic that drives some to do dangerous and challenging things like climb a mountain – besides the famous comment that it is climbed because it is there (Mallory and Everest) it is done because we want to see what we can do. Once done for many there is no longer a need to climb another.

I travelled for more than 10 years and it is perhaps one reason why I am content where I now live, irrespective of where it is exactly, I extended my boundaries and myself, while travelling and also now know what is “out there”, so I can nowadays comfortably live “here”.

Of course, we each have our own path, and need to find this, because if we all had the same journey the bus stop will be very crowded and road at a standstill!

This is where yoga does so well to fit everyone. It is a personal practice – it is not competitive – and allows us to find out who we are and what suits us.

We all learn when practising to extend our own boundaries in our own way. Even in a group class we can do this, because although we might all be doing the same posture, each one of us will be approaching it in an individual and personal way. For example, one persons might be holding the posture in a gentle way, as this suits their needs at that very moment (perhaps they are exhausted or bit unwell) while their neighbour might be at full stretch as that is what they need.

This is why I usually include something challenging in the class, like the handstands  we did this week in classes, because it offers us all the chance to test our boundaries and extend ourselves, regardless of age. And it does feel good when we have managed to try something new and challenging… even if we felt at the time that we had not done so well, because at least we tried, because as the proverb tells us: it is the journey that is more important than arriving at the destination.

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