Now, I confess I LOVE my stretchy black pants. I live in them.
And one important limb of yoga is indeed about physical postures that contribute to flexibility of body and mind.
You see, if you roll out your mat (at home or in class) and come to the practice with a willingness to be fully present with where your body is in every given moment without judging yourself or others, then – and only then – are you truly practicing yoga.
And the breath. Yes, the breath is key. Learning to breathe consciously is what connects the body and the mind.
*Sandy is a 47 year old woman who, due to unexpected health challenges, has gained 100 pounds over the past few years. She shows up for her private yoga sessions with me every week with a smile and an open heart. Sandy comes in, sets up her mat, gets her blocks, strap and her bolster and comes into a cross legged position supported with folded blankets under her knees and under her tail bone. She rests the backs of her hands on her legs, lifts her sternum, drops her shoulders down and finds a tall spine. She readies herself for her yoga practice. Sandy understands the true meaning of yoga. She works with her body exactly as it is. She welcomes the breath to flow through her and she gently focuses on the here and the now. After centering, I guide Sandy to stand in tadasana (mountain pose) and gently sweep her arms out and up, gently hinging at the hips and folding into utanasana. Her body holds substantial flesh around her belly, so she is unable to touch her toes. She breathes into where she is and accepts with love and grace this present moment, this body and this breath as it is. This is yoga.
*Laney bustles into yoga class 10 minutes late. She noisily snaps her mat open, tossing her belongings, plopping down into full lotus. She moves through sun salutations with ease as her body is very flexible. She looks around the room comparing her triangle pose to the others in the class. It is obvious her mind is elsewhere, maybe running through her to-do list. She checks her phone while in utanasana while reaching the flats of her palms to the floor with ease. This is not yoga.
Yoga is a practice of bringing mind, body and spirit into alignment. It does not matter whether your body is barely able to bend or whether you can twist like a licorice stick. You are practicing yoga when you are able to come into present state of being with awareness to breathing and acceptance. When practicing yoga, we don’t compare ourselves to anyone else because all that matters is that you are where YOU are in this moment.
Mindfully yours,
Lynn Louise Wonders
