After spending most of my life teaching dance and fitness classes in some capacity, I thought around 2017 that the natural progression for me was to transition to yoga. I started on a path to RYT 200 (200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher). I only thought of it at that time in a physical sense: maintain my flexibility, increase my flexibility in certain areas, and try something that was a little gentler on the joints.
Of course, I knew there was a mental and spiritual component, but I had not happened across that side in any classes I had ever taken. I honestly did not know what it meant except that it was some state of enlightenment or bliss that I had never attained. It took me many decades in my life to come to the realization that I am just a life-long learner.
There was just no suppressing it, and it was a relief to realize what that is. There is not something inherently wrong with me that I must learn about things in the form of classes, certifications, or research.
Yoga was one of those learning experiences that provided me with a lot more than I had even anticipated. Yes, the physical benefits are more tangible, but the mental, spiritual, and even psychological benefits were far greater.
The simple definition of yoga is “an ancient Indian practice designed to harmonize body, mind, and spirit.” Sounds blissful, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, many people have hang-ups around this whole mind-body-spirit concept.
Regarding meditation, I have heard excuses such as: “I can pray, but I can’t meditate”; “It’s against my religion”; “I can’t sit still that long”; “My mind wanders”; or simply, “It’s stupid.”
I have also heard “Stretching just isn’t for me”, “I’m just not flexible”, or “It moves too slow for me.” as excuses against the asanas or yoga poses. And as far as the controlled breathing or pranayama, I have heard “I can’t stop holding my breath” or “I can’t focus on my breath.”
If you look at all those excuses, I see one glaring common denominator: me, me, me. And there lies your answer, folks: ego stands in the way of almost everything. It stands in the way of your progress, your happiness, and your peace. Setting your ego aside can open so many possibilities that do not go against your thoughts, your morals, your beliefs, or your religion.
I am here to tell you that the best thing about yoga is it is whatever you make of it. There are days when I prefer a quicker flow between poses, and there are days when I prefer to hold a pose and take more breaths. I do not know why that is, but I try to just “go with the flow” and trust my mind knows what my body needs.
It is your practice and it is always there for you, but being able to let things happen, live in the present, let go of the past, and find some kind of harmony that works for you, is all about putting your ego away for a moment. It is about relinquishing control, and for most of us, that is scary.
We will dive further into the specific benefits of yoga in next month’s column.
If you are interested in learning more about breathwork, yoga, stretching, dancing, or Reiki, I am available for private instruction (1-4 students) and events currently. These sessions can be in-person or virtual. You can message me on Instagram @gyspyrambler pa or on Facebook under Dolly Throckmorton (w/the blue checkmark) or email me at dollygthrock@gmail.com for more information.
