The True Yoga Path

Which is really the correct path?  What is the "real" yoga?  Yoga has become big business.  In effort to attract students, instructors and studios turn to marketing strategies that highlight what we do best.  Industries attempt to design and market products that will appeal to a specific demographic.  This may seem like good business, but does it threaten the heart of what the practice is all about?  

The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means "to join" or "to yoke".  Could our efforts to set ourselves apart threaten the core of our practice?  Whenever we try to make hard and fast rules, it tears us apart.  Yoga is not only fancy poses, nor is it the lack of fancy poses.  Yoga is not only in heat, nor is it the lack of heat.  Yoga is not only for flexible, inflexible, male, female, gay, straight, overweight, thin, athletic, young or old.  Different practices and teachers will appeal to different people, so isn't it great that there are so many to choose from?

Although there are several different paths, they all come from the same origin.  Power yoga has it's roots in ashtanga yoga, as taught by Pattabhi Jois.  Alignment based yoga and the use of props takes inspiration from BKS Iyengar.  That's without even getting into the fusions like alignment based vinyasa.  There are many different styles, but were you aware that many came from the same lineage?  BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois shared the same teacher, Master Krischnamaycharya.    

If you are a dedicated yogi or a teacher, I am sure that you are inspired by your practice, style, and teachers and want to share it with others.  Please be sure to support all yoga in your written and verbal communication.  I have only taken one Bikram class ever, but am happy to recommend a nice studio in the area if that's what you're trying to find.  I love my teachers, my studios, my students and my community, but I will not say that my training or style is any more valuable than someone else's.  

We are all on a path searching for the same thing, and the path is ever evolving.  I hope to be practicing when I'm 103.  That's 60 years from now, so while my yoga may not look, feel or sound the same, that does not make it any more or less valuable than what I am doing today.  

Don't get me wrong, I am very passionate about what I do, and would love to introduce you to my classes either on the mat or on the Yoga Wall.  I have seen many people benefit from my classes.  I have benefited from different teachings at various times in my life, so if you're looking for something else, I'll try to help you find that too.

Try various types of yoga and share ideas with several different yogis.  Make each practice your own, and I will do the same.  Above all else, find the union.  We are more alike than we are different.

Intentions and Real Change

Several yoga classes begin with a meditation, or setting of an intention.  This is a great time to bring focus to the question of you want/need from the day's practice.  You may want to consider setting an intention on a daily, weekly, monthly basis or longer.  

It takes practice to turn inward and discover what you truly want or need.  Many of us were brought up to do as we were told.  Sports were based on performance, and winning was the primary goal.  The feeding of the spirit may have been a rare or completely void aspect of our everyday lives.  

The practice of intention is well worth the investment.  In January of 2014, I set my intention for the upcoming year.  I asked myself who I wanted to be, and how I could make my life better.  I decided that the wall I had built around my heart must come down.  I had been able to do the work at my local yoga studio, but returned to my old habits during the rest of my life.  The journey has been incredible and life changing.  I have made connections with family, made new friends, and began recording my thoughts in this blog.  I am more available for others now that I am more connected to myself.

All of this work on intentions and heart opening has allowed me to come to a simple conclusion that really shocked me.  Maybe I could open up and ask for what I want in other situations.  I thought of a situation that was far from ideal, and asked myself what my dream outcome would be.  When I contacted the other parties involved, the final solution worked out better than the one that I proposed.  This is so simple, but was also very profound.  Imagine asking for what I wanted - shocking!  I was able to use my energy to maintain connections with others, rather than using my resources in maintaining the wall around my heart.

Call it an intention, a dream, or a resolution.  You can set goals that leads to emotional and personal growth.  When you do this work, it improves all of your personal and professional interactions.    

To get started, you need to reflect during some quiet time to yourself.  You may prefer a daily walk in nature, prayer, meditation, yoga asana (postures), or a combination of a few of these things.  Here are some steps to help you begin to find and work toward your intention.  

1.  As you begin, ask yourself what changes you'd like to see, and begin to visualize that change in your life.  

2.  Notice if there is any physical tension that is connected with that emotion or change.  Breathe deeply and try to soften that tension.  

3.  When you find that feeling or situation arising in your everyday life, return to your breath and the softness.  Remind yourself of the change that you want to make.

4.  When you feel that change becoming habit, ask how you could expand it to create a better world.      

You do not have to be satisfied with, "that's just the way that I am".  You have the power to set an intention, make a change, create better thoughts and a better life.  It will improve things for those around you as well!  Change your inner dialog, change your physical response, and you can change the world!

Live your yoga every day - Beth