Personal growth with Yoga
Reflecting on my recent vinyasa flow upskill training…
In my recent Vinyasa Flow training, I had the opportunity to reflect on my past yoga experiences. This has brought up lots of thoughts and memories.
I had many unhealthy theories that had been challenged by yoga.
I’m glad to have grown out of them and become more comfortable having these conversations with teachers and myself.
Act without feeling entitled to the outcome
“You have a right to your actions but never to your actions’ fruits. Act for action’s sake. And do not be attached to inaction.” — Bhagaved Gita verse 2.47
I used to shy away from acting when I feel too embarrassed or too afraid of what may happen. To prevent me from regretting, in times of self-doubt, I would choose to jump into action.
Then I would get upset over unexpected/ failed outcomes. I would wish that I knew better and considered more, even though I couldn’t have possibly done better.
Yoga has offered the perspective that I should not feel entitled to an outcome.
Be present and focus on the now
Who is the boss, the mind, the body, or the soul?
I have learned that the mind is a monkey that jumps to the past, to the future, but never the present. Yoga helps to tame the monkey and brings focus.
I can be stuck on unpleasant memories and thought they would define who I am today. I reminisced and glorified the old days and thought only if I can travel back in time, I would feel happy and content.
I can be busy worrying about problems in the future, sometimes even existential crises. The mind is filled with what-ifs, what could be, and what should be, but not what it is now.
Truth is, the past is in the past, and there’s no way to change; the future is in the making from actions taken here and now.
On the mat, I feel present. I focused on movement and breathing. I attentively listened to the body. Throughout the years of practice, my body strength and range of motions improved.
During practices, yoga teachers would cue to leave daily thoughts off the mats. For me, It has been helpful to bring on-the-mat philosophy and learnings to everyday life.
Using props does not make you less of a good yogi
Man, in my first year of practice, I refused to use blocks and straps for all poses. I was convinced props are for the weak: yoga teachers do not use blocks and straps; Instagram yogis do not use blocks; using Blocks and straps implies that the range of motions is not there.
Oh yes, my range of motions was not there but I refused to see it. Now I feel silly.
This line of thinking was discussed in our training today, and one teacher said she brought blocks to a student to assist the practice. The student’s face looked down as if her/his abilities are undermined.
Every yoga pose comes with its health benefits. If props help to achieve these benefits, there’s nothing embarrassing about using them.
Yoga is not a practice to make bodies look certain ways because people are in different body shapes and are at their own pace of improving. Using props is not to discourage people from achieving a full expression, but to offer options and build them towards a fuller version in the future.
Likewise, in life, I have learned to accept help and express gratitude for kindness. Accepting help does not equal incompetency.
The training continues…
