It’s not what happens during your practice that matters. It’s how it impacts your life that counts.
We sometimes have this idea that yoga should feel good.
I remember a few years ago, I was chatting with someone who found out I was a yoga teacher. She sighed wistfully, “Oh that’s so lucky! You must practice every day. That’s so nice.”
I looked at her askance. “My practice is not at all relaxing,” I said. I was practicing ashtanga at the time, making my way through the second series. “It’s not fun. I don’t really enjoy it.”
And I didn’t. Practicing ashtanga was incredibly uncomfortable and tested all my physical and mental reserves. I stood at the front of the mat before practice and felt creeping dread. My brain wanted to be anywhere else. But the practice shifted the rest of my day, and my life.
When we ask ourselves if our practice is working, we may first think about our mastery of the physical poses. Or about how strong and light we feel when we practice. But ultimately the practice isn’t about getting our heels to the floor in downward facing dog or doing a press handstand.
Instead, we should ask:
- am I centered?
- am I kinder?
- am I focused?
- am I more present?
If so, you’re on the right track.
Yoga is not to be performed. Yoga is to be lived.
Do your practice. Just show up. In whatever you find. Some days, practicing asana will feel light and free; some days you will feel as if your insides have been replaced with lead. Your practice will not develop in a linear pattern; you will circle back, fail, spiral, start again. No matter. Just show up. For five minutes or two hours. Success of failure. Just show up.
Because the quality of your practice isn’t determined by the “success” of your asana, but by your evolving connection to your heart.
1 Comment
Strong dedication and concentration is needed to follow yoga and its steps. this makes you healthy fit and memorable.
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