Clarity of Language
Some yogic texts say that the peace and contentment yoga offers is already our nature. It’s not something that can be added by practicing yoga, but it can be revealed. As a yoga teacher, one of the challenges of the language use to teach poses and to even talk about the yoga practice is that we live in a society that is obsessed with self-improvement. We all strive to be better human beings. As a part of society, most of us do not like ourselves and we approach the yoga practice as a way to get better – to fix ourselves. We move the body to lose weight, to get stronger, to find flexibility. Most people come to yoga classes with a physical goal in mind. It is my objective to change how this community views not only the yoga teacher; but the yoga practice in general.
We live in a world where we are made to believe there’s always something inside of us that needs fixed. But, if you understand the idea that we are all in this together, learning as we go, and that what you need is already inside of you, it might bring forward what yoga truly has to offer… self-acceptance. Yes, I am the “teacher” leading the room; but I am not here to demand. I am not here to make your body look like my body or to tell you exactly how to move your own. The thing is your body isn’t mine. And while yes, I can read your body and attempt to understand how you might move, I don’t know your body completely. I can offer assistance and help you notice how you feel, react, and take what is being offered. What I can’t do, what I won’t do is make your body something it’s not. My job, as the leader of the room, is to guide you. My job is to assist you in exploring, to raise questions, to offer challenges. My job is to hold space for you. I am here with knowledge on ways to move, learn, and explore the yoga practice; but you, YOU are the expert!
We all strive to be better human beings. We all strive for self-improvement. But, here’s the thing… there is no right or wrong in yoga. There is no good or bad in yoga. There are so many ways to approach the asana, the physical movement to yoga, and there is not universal agreement about the “right way” to do any of them. The way it is described today may be different than the way it is described tomorrow. The practice, your practice is ever changing. Can you shift the conversation? Can you tell the little devil sitting on the shoulder to lower the volume of her voice? Is the mind capable of diving into the realm of self-acceptance and living within the body just as it is? In my own experience, when we allow the mind to be accepting, there becomes a greater shift in the way of living. Yes, I’m sure there are many areas within that need improvement. A softer tongue. More patience. Slowing down and living in the present moment. But can you change the narrative? Can you take an opportunity to be in the moment where the mind is flooded with thoughts of self-love and self-acceptance? I invite you to do just that. Let go of the need to fix anything at all. Take time to be with you, just as you are.
