Yoga is an Exploration, Not a Destination

BY SUSI AMENDOLA

Today I heard someone in line at the coffee shop saying to her friend,

“I can’t do yoga, I’m not flexible enough” “I just can’t move like I’m supposed to.”

I always pause and sigh internally when I hear this and believe me I hear it a lot. It’s one of many misconceptions about yoga.

Yoga is so much more than just movements. It is a system of self-realization that involves practices that lead us to our own divinity. While sometimes flexibility is a side effect, the Yoga postures are a container for exploration not a destination. Simply put, they allow us to observe ourselves, and our patterns, both physically and mentally — without judgement or comment. We can’t do them wrong. They aren’t about getting somewhere or being something other than ourselves, but rather remaining present with ourselves from one moment to the next.

When we look at a yoga pose in a book or watch a video or even go to a class where the teacher is showing us “how to do it”, we lose the personal experience of what it means for us to move our body with awareness and compassion. We side step our own inner wisdom for someone else’s version of Yoga.

Part of the practice is noticing what comes up when we move. We are exploring the balance between comfort and discomfort, and the relationship we have with ourselves. We are navigating a number of physical and emotional responses. Yoga movements are a time for deep inquiry and listening. If we are striving to be in a certain pose in a certain way, we miss the ‘juicy’ insightful stuff. We miss the information our body is offering us about ourselves. This subtle shift can take you into a deeper more meaningful experience of yoga postures and ultimately yourself.

When doing yoga postures, there is no final pose. The whole practice including the transitions are part of cultivating awareness and autonomy. We are reclaiming the spaces of our own bodies and honoring its wisdom .

May your your next yoga practice offer you the time and space to explore and observe within.  Enjoy, you don’t have to be ‘flexible’, simply present!