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| Philly City Hall |
This past weekend I headed north to Philly for a day of vegan treats and yoga with some lovely people I met via twitterville. My belly was filled all day with yummy vegan foods from Grindcore and Vedge, two awesome dining experiences. But the main reason I went to Philly was to take Krista and Brock’s buoyancy control workshop with a fellow yogini Brittany. And by buoyancy control I mean learning how to fly… into handstand. The three hour class was fun, intense, and a lot of hard work. We spent half the class warming our bodies and building core and the other half learning how to get up into handstand and different things to do once you’re in handstand, like coming down into bakasana. To say I was sore the next day was to put it lightly. It was awesome! Krista and Brock’s chemistry is fantastically sweet. The cues were right on the money and they kept everyone safe and happy.
Anyway, when I got home I googled Krista and I found picture after picture of her doing intense yoga poses. I felt a twinge of jealousy and almost a bit of disappointment… I want to get there! I want to fly into controlled handstands like it’s no effort. And of course I want it NOW, without years of work and effort.
But wait a minute here, is that truly what yoga is about? It’s an interesting dynamic don’t you think? These amazing teachers travel the world teaching you how to do these difficult poses. But you gotta wonder, is that what Patanjali wanted from his students? Being able to fly into handstand… does that equate to happiness? Tranquility? Can these yogis sit on a meditation cushion for an hour and find inner stillness?
I know this topic is treading the edges of a pretty intense debate (is yoga becoming too asana based?) but it really did make me think. Why do I want to achieve a handstand? What is the deeper meaning here?
After a few hours of thought I came upon this conclusion. I think it’s fine to go to workshops and learn how to dig deep and build strength and flexibility. Actually, I think it’s great! What’s better than spending a few hours on a wonderful Saturday afternoon connecting with your body, learning from great teachers, and having a little fun?
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| Left to right: me, the power couple, Brittany |
However, after all that is said and done one MUST come back to the original intention. Why did I come to yoga? Was it to beat myself up because I can’t do a pose? Was it to become a yoga model and promote products? No, I came to yoga to find peace. And the only way to do that is to bring all the fun on the mat, onto the cushion. To be able to dedicate time in my day towards my sadhana, my journaling, my meditation. That may not be as “fun” as meeting new people and doing tricks on the mat, but if you brought just as much curiosity to the interior world as you did to the exterior world, you will find a different kind of fun. Something a lot more durable and long lasting.
Yoga is all encompassing. No judgment here – it’s all good. But my sincerest belief is that asana practice is not the end. It’s just one of many important components to connecting with the divine.
It’s ok I can’t do handstand yet. I’m working on it. But I’m also working on quieting the mind through introspection. And that makes all the difference.
Namaste.
February 6th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Fantastic post
)) sounds an inspiring workshop…. Sometimes I too wonder if Yoga is becoming to asana based Xxwww.kikiandlalainwonderland.blogspot.com
February 6th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Ooh Thais I really enjoyed this! I think there's way too much emphasis put on asana and advanced/snazzy poses. It's great if you can do them and I'm sure there are benefits for one's body too, but an advanced yogi isn't necessarily someone who can do handstands. Some of the most enlightened and awake people on the planet would struggle to touch their toes! xx
February 6th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
You are brave! I am so scared of handstand, I'd NEVER go to a workshop for it! I think you're right about asana focused practice these days. I used to go to a studio that focused on intense inversions in every class. I left feeling crappy cause I wasn't getting it…and, that's not what I want my practice to be about. So, I quit going to that studio. To each their own, though. For some people, they may find peace in the challenge an inversion brings. I'll take a nice child's pose any day!
February 7th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
What a brilliant article!! It is soooo true! Thanks for sharing!!! <3
February 8th, 2012 at 4:45 am
Agreed, It's not about the party trick poses, but….the floating, rising, levitating action make me feel weightless. It makes me feel that I can rise above that downer stuff in life, and that makes me smile inside and out : )