Yes, you can do yoga! by Lexie Wolf
“The study of asana is not about mastering posture. It's about using posture to understand and transform yourself.” - B.K.S Iyengar
My ego got the best of me on the mat this week and I went a little more deeply than I needed to in a pose. It didn’t register at the time but I woke the next day feeling a little pain in my periformis. I went a bit beyond what my edge probably should have been and my body sent me a gentle reminder. Thank you for the lesson, body.
Our yoga asana (physical) practice is an ongoing conversation we have with our bodies. Your instructor might be able to spot something that looks potentially harmful, and they might not. We are in conversation with our bodies the entire time we are on the mat. As with most conversations, the listening part is the most important. No two days are exactly the same in these extraordinary vessels of ours.
Yoga is an act of friendship with the body. With a consistent practice, a relationship – maybe a true friendship - is developed. Cultivating this relationship feels very important to me because this vessel is the equipment with which I am experiencing a lot of life. So to know this body well and to treat it as best as I can feels like common sense. I am fortunate to have thus far been gifted with a sturdy vessel. I try not to take it for granted. I know that its sturdiness is impermanent.
Sometimes this body needs a very gentle and nourishing practice with a lot of stillness and softness. Other times it would like to move a lot and stretch and feel challenged. Honoring our bodies means choosing the right kind of practice. That’s why we offer a variety of classes to meet different needs.
If you attend class with us your teacher hopefully reminds you to adjust your practice as needed. It can feel challenging or awkward at first to opt out of a pose when everyone else in the room is doing it – I realize that. Know that your teacher is regarding you with a great deal of respect when you do so. The ability to listen respectfully to the body and act accordingly is a way more advanced yogic skill than any posture will ever be.
I really want the practice of yoga to feel accessible to as many people as possible. I often hear people say, “I can’t do yoga.” But more often than not, they absolutely can. People see me coming towards them on the street and they get their “I can’t do yoga” speech ready. It’s totally ok if you don’t want to do yoga. There are lots of wonderful mindful movement practices out there. But respectfully - yes, you likely can do yoga. If you can get down onto the floor and back up a couple of times in an hour, you can comfortably join several of our classes (Gentle Yoga, Functional Movement for Aging, Slow & Subtle Yoga, Unwind & Restore). For folks whose bodies won’t cooperate with that requirement, Susan is offering a Chair Yoga workshop on March 10. If there is enough interest we’ll make it a regular class.
If you’re feeling ready to push your edges in a mindful way, join us this Friday evening for our monthly Advanced Asana class. This class is designed for those with some yoga experience who want to explore more complex poses, transitions, and techniques in a supportive environment. We’ll break down advanced postures, work with breath and control, and take time to integrate what we learn. It’s a great opportunity to approach challenge not from a place of ego, but with curiosity, patience, and awareness.
