Yoga as a conversation

If you’ve been in my yoga class you know I use the words “explore”, “consider” , “curiosity” and “invite” regularly. You’ll hear me give a cue like, “Consider what it would feel like if you moved your knee forward.” Or “explore the feelings of this posture.” I love the cue “get curious about what your body needs at this very moment.”

I do this with intention because I believe that our asana (physical postures) practice is a conversation. A conversation with the body so it can share feelings without judgement or resistance. This conversation is with the self and the Atman (greater / deeper self) and the ego and the breath and all the wonderful things that make you human. The conversation is going on all the time, even if we aren’t listening. We have to actively be open to the conversation in order for it to flow. We must both ask the questions and be available to receive the answers.

Picture the last time you were in a captivating conversation with a friend (heck maybe even the stranger in the middle seat of the plane) and it was just flowing. You’re going back and forth, alternating between listening, talking and digesting what’s being shared. You feel seen, you’re holding space. You feel nourished.

That’s what I hope to offer through the asana practice. I hope I can facilitate, through asana, pranayama and meditation conversation that you can use as a mean to explore not just your physical body but your emotions as well.

Tree pose (vriksasana) is a standing balancing posture that requires the student to stand on one foot with the leg straight while the sole of other foot is placed near or on the standing leg. The balancing knee is open to the side. There’s a lot of balance and sometimes students fall out of the posture. What if, instead of thinking, “ugh I suck at this!” you take the time to listen to what you need, to return to the breathe. Falling out of a pose is awesome…it means your body is telling you something and now you can tune in a bit more. When you speak to yourself with compassion and empathy you feel that in each cell of your body. Likewise, that negative self talk is felt and overtime, you might grow to resent a pose rather than seeing it as a conversation point.

What is the conversation you are having with yourself in your yoga practice?

Are you listening when you body speaks to you and asks for what it needs?

Or do you mutter “hush up” and go along with your ego’s plans to chase a feeling it think you should have?

Cultivate more space in your practice to listen. Take what you need and leave the rest. Move with regards to your body and not your ego. What nourishes you most in a given moment…give that gift to yourself whenever you can.