Our yoga practice offers us the time, space, and structure in which to find, explore and experience a sense of flow. To flow from asana to asana, or to connect with the more subtle flow within the pose, to observe the ebb and flow of breath. In meditation, we observe the comings and goings of the mind; the fluctuations, the peace, and the thoughts that upset the peace. We become curious about the emotions that arise, and practice presence, however challenging, for the experience of being human. We may even become skilled and strong in meditation and asana, finding comfort and grace, coming to the still point of balance in physically challenging poses, and throughout our meditation. It’s very natural when we’re skilled to believe we have ‘arrived’, that we are accomplished even… and perhaps, within the safety of the class, with the boundaries of the mat, and of the hour ahead, this is true. But how does this practice translate to real life, and to daily living off the mat?
Remembering that our yoga practice, whether it’s self-practice, or led practice, is just that – practice. Building strong bodies and spacious compassionate minds is the practice of creating and maintaining the structure and conditions in which our life force, our prana, can flow freely and without the resistance of a tense body or mind. We’re practicing for living. We practice in order to embrace the flow of life as it moves to us and through us without resistance. We practice in order to navigate the day-to-day challenges we face, curveballs thrown our way, shocks, traumas, losses, and gains.
Whilst we can plan and structure our lives to feel as though we are in control, life has a way of teaching us that there are greater forces at work which have the power to knock us off course. The practice of building a strong body in order to feel ‘in control’ or meditating to ‘clear the mind’ meanwhile forcing holds, pushing beyond our limits, or attempting to deny or diminish thoughts is really the practice of resistance and force. It is the practice of power over the situation.
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