The practice isn’t the problem.
In fact, the practice is the solution (not asana, the ‘other’ bit)
We may actually be the problem… who recognises this arc either as your own journey or someone who know?
We start going to yoga classes.
We go a LOT.
Going to yoga defines us and we become evangelical about it.
We get good at the shapes.
We are praised for them.
So we train to be a yoga instructor.
Then we teach.
Our teachings become focused on poses, sequences and popularity.
We glorify our physicality in images and posts.
We demonstrate all time or indeed do the whole class with our students.
We strive in all areas.
Injury often occurs at some point.
Followed by disbelief. Isn’t the practice healing & healthy?!
Longevity of injury and pain brings panic.
Then a sadness, a grieving for past poses and ability.
Announcements online and apologies for not posting and posing.
Excuses made that aren’t required to explain reasons how and why this happened.
Rolling through the turbulent seven stages of grief over the perceived loss of the practice.
Realisation we may in fact be responsible in part.
Guilt creeps in over all the people you potentially caused harm to or haven’t seen in class for a while- are they hurt too?
What are you going to do is the recurring question that plays over in your mind.
The disconnect is that we want people to still come to class but now how do we sell it?
So we start looking for fix cure cycle, over and over trying things and over investing in their healing potential.
But then, in time, we start to slowly feel better.
Teaching then starts to include inflammatory language against injury and precautions, creating more problems.
We ease back to learnt behaviour, to glorifying the physical and our language is problematic such as it feels good or moves are juicy or we are back on track etc
Instead let’s;
Break the cycle.
Tame pain. Learn to explain pain to others.
Be better teach better.
Lean in to the philosophy of the practice.
