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WHY YOGA? At the beginning of each 8-week yoga session, I often ask folks to introduce themselves and also tell us why they’re taking yoga. Oftentimes I’ll notice that peoples’ reasons for taking yoga change from session to session, as similarly do mine. In fact, my reasons for doing yoga change on a daily basis, as do my physical, emotional and spiritual needs change. As I thought today about why I do yoga, I remembered my home practice and how the day leading up to it had been filled with a nagging negative incident that I was unable (or unwilling?) to drop and let go. I pulled out my yoga mat, turned on music and began to move - bringing awareness down from my brain and into my breathing and movements. Within only a short amount of time, I noticed that I had already begun to feel light and complete again, no longer plagued with the previously negative repetitive thoughts. At one point as I was in warrior pose with my arms overhead looking up at my hands, I noticed how much stronger and healthier I felt having lifted my mood and I once again pledged to remind myself that this is where I wanted to keep my focus – high and lifted instead of down where I’d been all day. It’s curious to me that I should need reminding of all the benefits of yoga, when I have spent so much time doing yoga, teaching yoga, learning yoga and reading about yoga. Nonetheless, old habits die hard and perhaps the brain resists discipline, which yoga requires in order to receive it’s benefits. And so, each time I come to the mat, I remember how it good it feels on all levels to do this practice. I’m not sure why my brain sometimes opts to forget all the wonderful side-effects of yoga. Yet, sometimes when I need it most, I forget to go to the mat to allow the practice to lift my mood, energize my body, and relax tense muscles. When all I needed to do was sit for a few minutes and watch my breath to stop my repetitive thoughts. Do a few forward/backward, side-to-side moves, and twists. And some movements to get my blood moving. It’s really that simple - and cheaper than buying a new pair of shoes, healthier than eating a chocolate sundae, and has no negative side-effects. Imagine that.
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