08/06/2024
For some reason it's important as a Retreat Director, Yoga Lifestylist and a woman in the business of Yoga to post pictures of my body in an asana pose.
(So I have been told) - I can see it makes sense in the digital world.
I guess it's meant to catch your eye and make you think "Oh, she does Yoga" or "W😲W I want to make pretty shapes in nature too".
The reality is - whilst I deeply believe asana is a VERY important step and should be done daily to keep the spine lubricated, body limber and the energy channels flowing, these days this is not what my yoga practice looks like.
My yoga practice looks like - studying the scriptures (currently reading 'The Living Gita' by Sri Swami Satchidananda for the 2nd time through).
It looks like morning breath connection practices (with the occasional lenience of schedule commands) and gratitude practices, greeting the day with a sense of wonder and connection to my body and the gift of the human experience.
Of course, I include the physical poses to prep my container for the day and manage pain + inflammation.
It looks like mindfulness in moments of over stimulation, frustration or unraveling, as well as in moments of joy, adventure, and connection.
It looks like practicing to cultivate new neuropathways to curate a better version of myself to optimize my experience in this human condition.
It looks like taking the seat of the witness. Watching myself and learning myself, so I may know what needs healing and where is expanding.
It looks like sharing my experience with others who are ready, who are craving something deeper from this life.
It looks like a nightly connection practice - Meditation or Yoga Nidra to set myself up for a successful awakening (again with the lenience of other earthly desires like television, and online chess).
It looks like discipline, devotion and desire.
Sure, these yoga poses are beautiful and catchy but my practice is much deeper than this picture could ever display.
This picture is not what makes me or anyone else you see posting beautiful poses on the internet a "Yogi". It is the way we conduct ourselves in our daily lives.
Yoga is a Lifestyle - Not just a shape.