Yoga Postures: An Exploration, Not a Destination
What have you observed during your yoga practice?
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Often people tell me, “I can’t do yoga, I’m not flexible” or “I’ve tried, but I couldn’t get it right.” When we see someone doing a yoga pose in a book or even on a video, we are looking at a part of someone else’s experience. What’s important to understand, however, is that Yoga postures are not about getting to some place that we call “the pose.” They are not even about doing a pose “right.”
Yoga postures are a container for exploration. They allow us to simply observe ourselves, and our patterns, both physically and mentally — without judgement. We can’t do them wrong. They aren’t about getting somewhere or being something other than ourselves, but rather remaining present with ourselves from one moment to the next. The more we practice fully showing up for ourselves throughout our yoga practice, the easier it is to do so throughout our daily lives.
Yoga is a time of inquiry and listening.
Part of the practice is noticing what comes up when we move. We are exploring the balance between comfort and discomfort, and the relationship we have with ourselves. We are navigating a number of physical and emotional responses. Yoga is a time of inquiry and listening. If we are striving to be in a certain pose in a certain way, we miss the ‘juicy’ insightful stuff. We miss the information our body is mirroring to us about ourselves. This subtle shift can take you into a deeper more meaningful experience of yoga postures and ultimately yourself.
May your your next yoga practice offer you the time and space to explore and observe within. Enjoy, you don’t have to be ‘flexible’, simply present!
What have you observed during your yoga practice?
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