Stretchy Peace Fairies Only Please

Yoga isn’t about being peaceful or flexible. 

Yet many people shy away from it because they fear they can’t make the “requirements” to practice yoga. I have heard it many times when casually talking with strangers or even friends. Some matter of fact: “Oh, I tried yoga. I’m not flexible.” 

https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/patanjali-never-said-anything-limitless-flexibility

“It’s too slow. I prefer running.” Some have a more complex response when they find out that you practice or teach yoga: They sort of recoil as if they are in the presence of someone who might live in an alternate universe of calm, kindness and harmony. 

An awesome first-person account of this idea here.

I do think the yoga and meditation world can seem, to some, like a club for an elite class of humans. Go to any fairly large studio class and there’s likely to be a wave of lovely, fit beings in bright, tight clothing floating into the room looking like they know exactly what to do. I can see how this is intimidating or just seems not to fit with who we feel we are. 

A pretty large chunk says they’re undecided: “I tried yoga. It’s cool … I should go back.”

And happily, another pretty significant part of the population these days are everyday yogis themselves, who live the teachings off the mat, and practice when they can, often following/devoted to a strong teacher or two and/or attending a public class a time or two per week. 

Yoga being as popular as it is is a big deal. It wasn’t always this way. Yay yoga being popular! 

But: There is something under the perceptions. People’s idea that yoga has some pretty lofty goals isn’t unfounded.

The main goals the ancients “gurus” (master teachers and practitioners) had related to “samadhi” — a state of bliss achieved when one merges with the divine — and an incredibly flexible body, which requires a huge release of tension from muscles and a true lack of “gripping” with the body and the mind. And so, being at peace and being extraordinarily flexible *are* the eventual endpoints of a devoted yoga practice. One excellent explanation of this concept here. 

That’s to say nothing of one’s ability to sit still for long periods of time and to practice breath control. 

It’s very exciting to me that these two big parts of yoga (breath work and meditation) that have previously been more on the fringes — the physical poses have mostly, and probably always will, hold center stage — because they are a huge part of what makes yoga so transformative. Those two elements are essential in switching our “mode” from stress ball to the chillest, sweetest version of ourself!

We are seeing an increase in classes that feature these elements in yoga studios, gyms, community centers — anywhere yoga is taught. That’s because people feel good after they meditate and breathe more deeply and effectively, and because … science.

Meditation benefits have been “proven” and more and more people are open to doing breathing practice  to help them cope with stress. We celebrate this because life is stressful and these are some awesome tools we can use to combat the anxiety demon. 

Yoga is just not everyone’s cup of (herbal, homeopathic) tea. I am not one who believes everyone should do it and like it, or who doesn’t understand someone rejecting it as a health practice or way of seeing the world.

Many people find their bliss in painting, building, cycling, climbing mountains, dancing, playing music, making people beautiful, or any other number of wonderful pursuits that help us get to our highest and best self. We all know that feeling when we are “in the groove” with something. That combination of focus, calm and competence is a state we all love to achieve and strive to maintain (or at least come in and out of).

Of course I wish everyone would be attracted to living in a yogic way; I strongly believe yoga makes the world a better place or I would not devote myself to it so fully (and work to help others do the same). I agree with teachers who say they feel it’s an honor to teach yoga, however popular yoga is. (I was talking with an attorney once who said: “You can’t swing a cat around here without hitting a yoga teacher.”)

Just to be present and part of a practice where people are improving their health, engaging with their inner selves, and leaving with an increased sense of wellbeing and accomplishment truly makes my day … but it doesn’t make me a peace fairy.  It makes me a human who strives to live a full life, with the full spectrum of emotions, hard days, super bright moments of joy, and wisdom to take a breath when needed.