Asanas and Choice
I think we’re all pretty aware of the fact that the practice of yoga postures (asanas) can be physically demanding and considered a workout. Many people come to yoga for toning, flexibility and core work. Buuuuuut…. have you ever considered what your asana practice can represent? Have you ever thought that your asana practice can represent aspects of your life off the mat? YES! Of course it can.
What if your practice represented the way you made choices? every day choices? Consider this. We move on the mat in a few ways:
Out of habit: We might be mindlessly moving through varied poses/vinyasa flows. We might choose to not use props because it’s “not how we practice”.
Pushing past our limits: We might always choose that extra vinyasa when our arms are dying. We might always hold the posture even if muscles or joints are starting to hurt. Because “no pain, no gain” right? We might hold the posture because the person next to us is, instead of re-adjusting as we need.
Staying safe: We might choose to backout of plank each time without trying a few seconds extra (I’m raising my hand here). We might choose the next move because it’s comfortable.
Tuned in: We stay connected with our body and our breath. We move, get feedback from our body, and make the choice that’s aligned with what we need in that moment.
We can make choices in our daily routines that fall into those same patterns. However, during our day and routines, it’s not always easy to stay tuned in. The mat becomes a place to practice this. Start with 5 minutes of your class, then 10 minutes of your class, and so on… building up to staying connecting to yourself for 60 minutes. Maybe consider asking yourself the following questions during a practice:
What choice am I making right now?
Who am I making this choice for?
Is this the best choice for me?
Why am I pushing or staying safe?
How do you view your practice? How does it relate to your day in other aspects?