Yoga for Life: Start Where You Are
I’m already behind on my goal to publish a blog post every Friday, but for a valid reason. This past Friday was not a normal day. My employer announced a mass layoff spanning 12,000 roles. I’ve been through layoffs before, but not of this magnitude. I spent what was supposed to be my day off trying to find out who was laid off, talking with peers who remain but are stunned and saddened by the unplanned departures of so many people who are like family to me. As I continue to see new posts today from the talented, brilliant, committed, and amazing people who were affected, I know it could have just as easily been me, which is sobering. This week’s post is dedicated to everyone who has been impacted by layoffs, whether directly or indirectly.
In addition to coaching and working my day job as program manager, I teach yoga. I enrolled in yoga teacher training back in 2012 because the practice of yoga had changed my life, and I wanted to create and share the experience and benefits of yoga with other people. Much of what I’ve learned from the physical practice of yoga and yoga philosophy has carried over into other parts of my life, especially when it comes to growth, development, and leadership, and I love to share lessons and insights I’ve gained from yoga.
Even if you have no interest in yoga, I hope that you’ll be able to take something away that helps you in your life journey.
One of the first principles I learned in yoga teacher training was to Start Where You Are. It may sound like a no-brainer - where else can you start, right? But the idea is that there is no need to be anything, anywhere, or anyone else.
Observe Yourself
In order to start where you are, it helps to know where you are. I like to start teaching classes with a brief meditation, inviting students to observe themselves in three dimensions - physical, mental, and emotional. Observation is about turning your camera to selfie mode, assessing your current situation, and creating awareness, without making any judgments. Maybe you’re feeling a little tired or sore, or you’re distracted, or feeling a strong emotion. All of this can impact your yoga practice, but this doesn’t mean you should quit.
Observing yourself provides you with valuable information to help you determine how to make your yoga practice work for you. And it’s helpful not just at the beginning, but throughout your practice, as you see what starts to change in your mind and body as you move. Every body is different, from your natural flexibility to balance and strength and the shape and size of your torso and limbs. And it’s worth noting that even within the same body, every day is different, which is why taking a moment to observe yourself to see where you are in the moment can be valuable.
Bonus audio: 3 minute seated meditation to observe yourself
Work within your own ability
I’ve heard many people say they don’t do yoga because they’re not flexible. But one of the physical benefits of practicing yoga is that it helps you to build flexibility, so it’s great for inflexible people. If a yoga pose is not accessible, you can modify it. And sometimes there are other reasons why you might want to modify a pose, even if you can do it, because the modification provides you with more ease or allows you to feel it differently. Let’s take a standing forward fold as an example, where you are bending over and reaching your fingers toward the ground. In the full expression of a forward fold, your fingers reach the ground. However, that’s not always going to be the best way for you to do it. Maybe you feel strain on your lower back or your hamstrings, or it forces you to round your shoulders forward. In that case, you can bend your knees, or use a prop like a yoga block that effectively brings the ground closer to your hands so they have something to rest on.
Whether you are doing the full expression or a pose or modifying, you still are doing a forward fold, feeling the sensation of stretching, and getting the calming, stress-relieving benefits of the pose. And the more you practice, the more flexible you will become over time. In the end it doesn’t matter whether you actually reach your toes.
Sometimes the support comes from other people, not props. One of my favorite things about taking a live class is the opportunity to get assistance from an experienced teacher. At my local yoga studio, you are given a Yoga Flip Chip with “no assists” printed on one side and “assist” on the other so you can choose to opt-in if you like. An assist can be really helpful for a pose that might normally be too difficult or scary (e.g., a handstand).
Taking yoga off the mat
All of these principles apply when you are off the yoga mat and out in the world living your life. When you run into something new or challenging, it may feel overwhelming at first, but don’t let that discourage you or become an excuse not to do it. First, take some time to assess your current situation.
What capabilities do you already have, and what do you need to develop?
Can you make the task or situation accessible by modifying it a bit, or by getting support or assistance?
Just give it a try, without making it into a big deal. Try things you’ve never done before - you might surprise yourself with what you’re capable of. In the worst case, it doesn’t work but you have gotten value from the effort - it’s not just about the outcome.
Be playful! Have fun, embracing the adventure and experience.
What matters is that you’re taking action and having new experiences. Like most things in life, if you’re persistent and work hard, over time you will see progress.
Closing thoughts
The Paradox of Change from the field of Gestalt therapy says that change happens when people become more fully themselves, not by becoming something or someone they are not. The more you try to be something you’re not, the more you stay the same. By being present, observing yourself, and starting where you are, you’re creating the conditions to grow and develop organically and authentically, which increases the likelihood of the change being truly meaningful and sustainable.
