Has consent clouded our reasons for adjustments in yoga?
Of course personal choice, agency and respect are important, as are the deeper elements of trauma, triggering and the freeze/fawn response- but what about the really, really simple and most obvious reason?
Is there merit to weight loading a body that neither you, the client or a medical professional can see the tolerance of their joints and tissues?
The equation for injury even includes force and this isnt a personal training program with sensible progression and weights clearly marked. This is usually one persons unstable body weight pushing onto anothers in a ‘drive by’ adjustment.
Is the body inherently strong? Yes.
Is weightlifting beneficial? Absolutely.
But yoga dosnt need to feed desires, cravings, attention or even replace a gym load.
Additionally, a womens tissue make up changes constantly both monthly and through the seasons of her life in an ever shifting feeling of stiff, sore, strong, stretchy and everything inbetween.
And who wants to be responsible for an injury whether you are the teacher or doing partner work?
What feels good now, what feeds our addiction of attention, touch or sensation seeking could be causing and storing problems for the future. Is it necessary? Nope.
Just as we save money for the future make sure all the coins going in your yoga piggybank are a wise investment, not feel good quick fix & feed.
