Why You Should Never Do Yoga
On doing vs. being Yoga
Happy New Year Everyone!
While I am preparing the next Yoga Clinic for you, I thought I would address something that is fundamental to my yoga teaching, and approach to yoga. I posted about it on notes a while back, but a conversation with a friend last night reminded me that it was worth unpacking what “being yoga” actually means.
I am sure that for most of you, the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘yoga’ is a famous yoga pose like downward-dog, or warrior I /II. When, for example, you see the picture above (me in ‘wild thing’), do you think to yourself, “wow, that looks so impressive!” or, “I wish I could do this”? Or, maybe you find yourself envious of my flexibility and toned arms and think to yourself, “I will never be that flexible.”
What you are thinking of is, in fact, not yoga, but only one aspect (limb) of the yogic path, better known as asana - yoga postures. Asana is the third limb out of the eight limbs in the Yoga Sutras that together constitute the meditative state of samyama. The last being samadhi: a state of bliss, enlightenment.
The picture above is very dear to my heart, and I will go ahead and admit that “wild thing” may be my favourite yoga asana because it opens my heart and makes me feel expansive. But what makes this picture ‘yoga’ in my mind is all the things you don’t see: It was taken in Minca, Colombia, by our local guide (also a yoga teacher) after an inspiring hike and conversation. My trip to Colombia was a fluke. I didn’t know anyone there and I travelled on my own, more than twenty years after I had been a backpacker. Colombia turned out to be a life-changing trip that forced me out of my comfort zone in the best ways imaginable. I couldn’t just blend in, I was forced to speak Spanish and rely on the kindness of strangers. This is how I met two friendly backpackers and Juan David, our guide. So what infuses my “wild thing” pose is the wildness and openness I felt in my heart. I was high on life. High on joy. Even with a terrible stomach flu (which you also can’t see in the picture)!
To complete the yoga pose, here is a fuller picture:
So, what is yoga1?
The term ‘yoga,’ derived from Sanskrit, means union, oneness, to yoke, or harness, bringing together. On a spiritual level it refers to the union between the individual spirit (jiva) and the universal spirit/self (atman). This can be also thought as of as a personal consciousness connecting with global consciousness. In yogic thought, this union is considered to be real and concrete, and it is described as enlightenment or self-realization.
Yoga is also a union of the physical, psychological, mental, emotional and intellectual bodies, leading its practitioners to live an integrated, purposeful, useful and noble life. That is the aspiration anyway. Which is why it is also an ongoing practice. In essence, yoga is an inner journey to the true centre of the soul, which is the source of all happiness and ultimately of union and non-separateness. Through yoking our bodies, minds and hearts to a higher power of existence, we awaken the shakti - the spiritual energy hidden within, and our highest capabilities are revealed. This is self-realization - a confidence that cannot be destroyed. This is why I often say that yoga is not about learning something new, but more about un-learning all the harmful habits that have taken us further away from our true soul.
Yoga is the practice of mindfulness, compassion, grace and love through actions. Physical strength may be developed, but the ultimate purpose of yoga is the inner journey, unique to each practitioner.
THE YOGIC JOURNEY
The sage Patanjali outlines this journey in 8 limbs.
The five yamas: Ethical and moral restraints. Or, how to be kind to others.
a. Ahimsa - Abstention from violence.
b. Satya - Abstention from falsehood. Or, truthfulness in mind, word and action.
c. Asteya - Abstention from theft and exploitation.
d. Brahmacharya - Abstention from lust and greed.
e. Aparigraha - Abstention from hoarding. [The philosophy behind “Lite Living”!]
The five niyamas: Practices to create inner integrity. Or, how to be kind to ourselves.
a. Saucha - purity and cleanliness of mind, heart and environment.
b. Santosha - contentment.
c. Tapas - To glow with an inner aim and direction.
d. Svadhyaya - inner study
e. Isvara-pranidhana - devotion to the divine presence within all life.
Asanas - postures.
Pranayama - Breath regulation.
Pratyahara - Sensory withdrawal (which makes the next step easier)
Dharana - Concentration (which makes the next step easier)
Dhyana - Meditation
Samadhi - Enlightenment, bliss state of openness.
There is much to say about each of these limbs/ practices, but they are interconnected in the path of yoga. For example, when I teach yoga, I always remind my students to be truthful to their body’s limitations and capabilities (satya), never force anything (ahimsa), allow their breath to be their guide (pranayama) and find contentment and appreciation in what is (santosha). I also like to remind my students who struggle with meditation that it is step number 7 in the path of yoga - and one before the aspirational state of Samadhi! - and therefore is an advanced practice! I have been a yoga practitioner for more than twenty years and I have brushed against Samadhi only for a few second (while in Yoga Nidra! My next Yoga Clinic post). One day I hope to be able to extend the seconds to minutes.
What I am trying to say with this post is that if you are one of those “busy” people who is too busy “to do yoga” and then beat yourself up for never quite making it to your yoga practice is that there is a high likelihood that you are already doing being yoga!
Yoga is about union. Yoga is not preformative! Yoga at its core is more simplistic, and therefore more complicated: it’s about being present in the moment, whatever that moment is, and learning to flow with it, with curiosity. You won’t learn this by doing yoga. The only way to “do” this is by surrendering to not doing, and allowing ourselves to be true to ourselves. To just be.
A YOGA PRACTICE FOR ALL LEVELS OF FLEXIBILITY:
Let me bring your attention to another type of yoga: Action (karma) yoga, which is all about being intentional with our deeds in the world and spreading love and kindness for all beings. When you are taking your headphones out of your ears and acknowledge the cashier at your grocery store with a smile you are practicing karma yoga. When you bring soup to a friend in need, you are practicing karma yoga. When you pause everything that you are doing to listen to your child’s seemingly pointless chatter, you are practicing karma yoga. When you open the door to someone, you are practicing karma yoga. When you offer to carry the heavy bag of an older person, you are practicing karma yoga. You seeing - truly seeing - and you listening - truly listening - to another human being, is the highest form of karma yoga!
And perfecting a headstand, or performing an impressive “wild thing” does not begin to compare to the good feeling and countless health benefits that come from this practice that is always available to you. No flexibility needed!
As promised, Yoga Clinic will be resuming next week, on Thursday. And I have a real treat in store for you. Again, no flexibility is needed for this practice, only your open mind, and heart.
In the meanwhile, take a cue from the Yoga Sutras’ yamas and niyamas and be kind to yourselves and others. Practice karma yoga daily, and see your life transform. And if you are struggling with those New Year Resolutions, you may want to read my essay on why New Year Resolutions often fail, and how to set kinder resolutions intentions that actually succeed.
You can also practice karma yoga here, by subscribing! :)Your subscription will really help me, but more importantly, I hope it can help you! I am passionate about supporting my community and need you on the list for future karma yoga events (more information on this later!)
The light in me sees the light in you (Namaste),
Imola
My summary here comes from my yoga notebook, in which I had gathered useful information from various books, without (alas) noting the source. I’m guessing much of it comes from The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Love your thoughts on yoga as a long time practitioner. So true it’s one of many limbs and should not be another tool to beat oneself up about x
I'll be honest, Imola, I have never tried yoga, because I have degenerative disc disease in my L4, and I also have a pelvic tilt--both thanks to giving birth to five kids. So, I deal with a lot of pain in my body, though I do gentle weight lifting and stretching and I do walk every day. But I haven't tried yoga, because when I see the poses, I think, "Ouch!" Maybe that's what this post was trying to debunk?