Why do Yoga with me?
Maybe you shouldn’t. If you are not willing to face the truth of where you are, you definitely shouldn’t. What I am sharing will absolutely require you to have an honest look at yourself.
I hate to dis on Yoga teachers or what is going on in the world with the commercial Yoga trend. But if I am honest about how I feel, there really isn’t much positive I can say on the topic.
I have such a deep respect for Yoga and its ancient roots that when I see it being sold as a physical means to a nice body it does drive me nuts. I so want for us as humans to wake up. I see clearly our need to shift and evolve. I know Yoga is an awesome tool for growth and I hate to see it being used in a shallow and superficial way.
It could be the tool that actually helps us change from suffering, violence and pain; to healing, compassion and freedom. But that requires us to take the practice seriously. It isn’t about bending and contorting the body into funny shapes.
Yoga is a very personal journey inside. Yoga is about developing awareness of Self. It is about seeing our own patterns and pain and healing. It is about acceptance and breath and liberating ourselves where we are stuck. It can be messy and sticky and icky and hard work.
One of the things that makes my job as a Yoga teacher challenging are the ideas that people bring to class about what Yoga is. If they have training, or even if they have just read a copy of Yoga Journal, they come to class with expectations. People think if they place their leg in the right angle and touch their toes and look to the ceiling, or whatever other cues they might follow, that liberation from their physical or mental pain will follow.
I think we have been sold this idea that performing contortions will somehow bring health. We have been buying into this idea if we purchase the right Lululemon pants, or we invest in a Manduka mat that we are on the path to enlightenment.
What about looking inside? What about developing awareness of breath. Not control of breath. What about seeing the truth of what is happening inside of us. How about facing our pain. How about recognizing the anger, greed, and sadness we hold inside. What about seeing our role in contributing to the pain in the world. What about facing all that ugly business of the past.
It’s hard. So much has happened in the world. So many wars. So many abuses. So much pain. And we hold it inside. It exists in each of us. We are a product of the past. And we don’t want to face it. We don’t know how to face it. So we avoid it. We distract ourselves from it.
Well I want you to face it. When you come to practice with me I will hold you while you turn inwards to see what goes on in there. What I teach is a practice where you get in touch with you. The good the bad and the ugly. It isn’t easy or pretty. It is honest and real.
You have to be brave to do this kind of work. You have to be willing to change. You have to be willing to let go. Undo. Unlearn. If you are ready to go there I am happy to be your guide; to support you. We do need help on the journey. Find a teacher that has some experience walking on the Path. Find a teacher that will care about you and that will empower you to do the deep work.
