Yes, Yoga. (For all. For right now. For real life.)
Immaculately toned athletes with time on their hands who seem to have it all together. Sound good to you? Me either. But the yoga I’ve come to know and love is not about sweating, “finding your edge” or saying “namaste” at the end of your practice (p.s. Please don’t do that). And even without the Westernization, it’s still yoga and is still a powerful practice with 5,000-year-old roots that is perfectly accessible whether you’re curious about Indian culture, movement practices or treating trauma.
Define the terms. Let’s start with the basics: “Yoga” is more than movement. It's important that people don't just "work out" with yoga and leave the rest. The practice is based in ancient Hindu religion so having that reverence is part of honoring (a frequently appropriated) practice even if you aren't a spiritual person. Which is why things like patriarchal themes like diet culture have no place in yoga. It’s about meeting yourself where you are, practicing non-attachment (see also: non-judgment) and being present. You could start there. The word itself means “union” or “to yoke” in Sanskrit so in that spirit, combining your awareness around ethical standards and integrity is a very practical way of bringing more yoga into your everyday life. “Asana” is the word used to reference the postures and is the part of yoga most people know. But you don’t need to be flexible or in a coordinated, overpriced athleisure set to be a “good yogi.” In fact, kneeling into a wide-legged Child’s Pose is sometimes all you need to show yourself some somatic support, and falling asleep in savasana (the final resting pose at the end of almost every yoga practice) is the biggest compliment to teachers who often spend hours planning and teaching to help students relax enough to find peace.
Start here. Anyone curious about yoga should first start by cultivating a home or studio practice in a space that feels welcoming, safe and free of selling you an experience. Yes, yoga studios are a legitimate business, but the only experience you need is that of you, on your mat, gaining an education about your mind and your body and how this awareness and mindfulness can impact the collective.
Attend to your intentions. Niyama, the second limb of yoga, is rooted in self-discipline and spirituality, but you don’t need to be especially pious to do things like practice cleanliness, find contentment, entertain self-study and so on. Maybe it’s committing to practicing a certain number of times a week and setting an intention that you will only move your body when and where it feels good. Maybe it means treating yourself with care and finding meaningful ways to establish that you are, in fact, enough. Maybe it’s exploring yoga beyond studio classes. As modern-day interpreters of a 5,000 year old practice, we have only to honor yoga’s roots and do just what feels safe in our bodies.
A few tips when practicing:
Yoga can be done anywhere: Yes, even at your desk in full view of others. Pranayama, the breathwork element of yoga, has several practices that are so subtle, not even the person next to you would detect them. Ujjayi breathing is my personal favorite.
If at any time you find yourself practicing yoga (or really, anything) and your mind is whirring, notice that and hold space for it. Sometimes simply acknowledging our emotions is enough to allow them to not hold a tight grasp on our consciousness. Sound too “woo woo”? Try it. The next time you find yourself steaming after a meeting or embarrassed by a mistake, check-in with yourself. Ask yourself what you can do to release that feeling. Sometimes it’s movement (ex. Taking a walk, showing up to class, hopping on the Peloton) but sometimes it’s practicing unattachment and simply allowing yourself to be a human being having a human experience.
There is no “right way” to do yoga. There are many different forms; play around a bit to learn what works for you. Some involve more non-stop movement like ashtanga while others are based around a sequence of poses in a heated room. Others are more gentle, focus on breathwork, and so on.
As a non-Southeast Asian practitioner of yoga, I would invite you to explore your personal relationship with yoga (or cultivate one if you haven’t yet) and make a concerted effort to also learn from teachers that don’t look like you. In the era of COVID, this last part can be tricky so I’ve included some resources below:
Finally, remember, there's a reason it’s called the practice of yoga. It takes practice.
Have questions? You can find me at @vanessainboston and teaching to Colleges of the Fenway (Emmanuel, Simmons, Wentworth, MassArt and MCPHS) students, staff, faculty and alumni on Mondays (yoga) and Wednesdays (meditation) at 6pm.