hi guys, this is a little long, but i hope you will read it, and hope you will give me feedback, either through comments or private message. this is a topic ive been contemplating for some time and this bit of writing is a step towards articulating the questions and tensions that have arisen in and out of the yoga studio, on and off the mat, sitting, standing, and laying down.... Yoga and Fitness: The question I’ve felt haunted by more and more lately is whether we are practicing yoga as a part of a fitness regimen, or becoming fit as part of our practice of yoga? The line between the two often feels blurred, and though a certain overlap is natural and sensible, there are also many unspoken fears and assumptions at work. I don’t want to pass judgment on either; I simply want to encourage us to be a little more intentional about what we’re doing and why. Part of what is so life affirming about the practice of yoga is that it compels us to pay more attention to the mind-body connection, not only to how rejuvenation of the body can bring forth mental clarity, but to how the essential vitality of our being is an expression of the divine and can be ecstatically and authentically claimed. In a world in which the body has often suffered at the hands of the mind, a practice which restores balance and celebrates the beauty, power, and intelligence of the body can be tremendously therapeutic and empowering. It can also be vulnerable to overlooking the deeper teachings of yoga which force us to reconcile with impermanence, whether that appears as the fear of aging or the fear of loss, not through repression and reactivity, but through awareness, acceptance, and grace. In the absence of our own reflection and choice, what we end up with is an industry where we are not contributing our unique voice, but all conforming to and competing for a standard that may be unrealistic, at best, and damaging, at worst. By unique voice, I don’t mean to deny the basic and shared value of wellness, but to refine our understanding of wellness to include the emotional, intellectual, social, economic, and soulful dimensions that vary from person to person and require incredible sensitivity and companioning to ripen and come into fullness. I find that when we allow “yoga” to be a little more mysterious, we can approach our understanding of practice with honesty, humility, and real hope. Yoga is not easily defined, and maybe if we start looking for it in between countless “chatarangas” and distant platitudes, we can sense and be blessed by yoga in the same way that we are by our breath, the sunshine, or the sweet listening of a close friend.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:27:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015