Monday, April 29, 2013

The Yoga Weight Loss Program

I get a lot of questions teaching yoga. One question I've fielded repeatedly over the years goes something like this, "Most yoga practitioners that I meet are thin. If I practice yoga will I be thin?" Sometimes the question is, "Why are all yoga instructors fit?" I've shrugged off this question over the years, never really offering a direct response. Rather, a simple smile with encouragement towards continuing practice is about the best I've come up with. But I've thought about this question for a long, long time. And today I have an answer: Yes.  Before you run to your mat for a sweaty session, read on.

I assume this question is most often - if not exclusively - directed towards asana practice, which has become synonymous with "workout" in some instances. I do not deny that asana can be quite rigorous, often surprising the practitioner as sweat drips into puddles on the mat (slippery!). Vinyasa after vinyasa can tone the shoulders, strengthen the core and electrify the legs. Certain types of yoga, such as Ashtanga and Power Yoga, offer a level of cardiovascular work through a constantly flowing sequence. This vigorous asana practice can help in achieving weight loss goals. But, in my opinion, is not the reason for the "look" of the stereotypical yoga instructor. I see my "yes" as two-pronged.

Asana is physical and has a direct impact on physique. We get stronger and more flexible through our practice. Asana lends itself to physical exploration. As we endeavor to touch our toes or to place our foot behind our head, we become more aware of our bodies and how we feel in them. We begin noticing how different foods can affect what we do on our mats. Does that cup of coffee before practice make me lose my balance in tree pose? We develop an ear attuned to the subtle tellings of our bodies. We listen more closely. Then, we begin noticing how food choices affect us off of our mats. Do root vegetables make me feel more grounded? How does too much sugar affect my attitude? We become aware of the role food plays in our lives, taking to heart that, truly, "we are what we eat." We shift towards healthier eating habits and develop our bodies as fit vessels for our Self. This is one prong.

Some people come to their mats with a high level of fitness and a healthy eating lifestyle. When I began my personal practice I was an accomplished athlete with an understanding of healthy food choices. I was fit, strong and flexible in my physical body by anybody's account...except for my own. I'd struggled with food issues from a young age, successfully overcoming a 14 year battle with an eating disorder. However, my mental and emotional struggles were not with food, but rather with my Self.  

We house our emotional and mental issues in our physical body.  By becoming aware of these issue on our mats, we begin to honestly assess our Self, navigating through life based on what we discover. My personal discovery was a distorted view of my body, my abilities and my capacity to accept love. Physically, a very healthy specifmen. Emotionally and mentally, a junk-food junky.

Through steady practice, "never fit enough" was gradually replaced with a clearer understanding of my potential in combination with my intentions. I am capable. Of anything. "Strict regimens" were replaced with choices. My choices. Self-deprecation was replaced with acceptance and love. Of my Self. Then, of others. I began to see who I am physically, emotionally and mentally. This vision may fit the stereotypical image of a yoga instructor. More importantly, it is my personal expression of health, wholeness and love.

Study your Self inwardly to find your beauty and your truth. Shine out your beauty and your truth to all around you. This is the second prong.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Resistance Training

Sometimes I meet a lot of resistance in my yoga practice. I mean a LOT of resistance. It usually begins by not wanting to practice - whether it is early in the morning or in the middle of my day - because of something else that sounds more appealing. If it is a morning practice, staying in my warm bed usually sounds better than getting up, getting on my bike and getting over to the center for practice. If it is later in the day I can think of other obligations I have, like grading papers, running errands or going home to make dinner and care for my family (notice that my obligation to ME was last on the to-do list). All of these excuses are usually the first form of resistance encountered before getting onto
the mat.

We also meet resistance on the mat in the form of tight muscles (hips and hamstrings are usual culprits). Relaxing and releasing into pigeon can be an exercise in tolerance for some - there is no "relax" or "release" involved! Folding forward can sometimes make our toes seem miles away. But this resistance has a lot to teach us.

The body does not lie. The body is a vessel of truth. The body is your relationship to what is true about and within you. It speaks through resistance.

Our mental and emotional tensions are stored in our bodies as physical dis-ease. We often ignore or overlook these from day to day and occasionally (okay, often for some) even take medication to quiet them down. When we get onto our mat it is our chance to hear what the body has to say - to effectively listen to ourselves. We can learn a lot from our achy knees or our inflexible spine. We can begin understanding who we are and what we need. By working out these tensions on our yoga mat we are effectively working out the tensions of our lives. We are relieving the mental and emotional tension housed in our bodies. We begin learning how to use our breath to release and relax into the areas of the body that are tight. We begin healing ourselves. And we feel better. We feel happier, healthier and more able to be of service.

By being in service to our true selves, by getting onto our mats, by listening carefully to our bodies, we meet our highest potential to be an instrument of service for others.

Breath by breath, we meet resistance with grace and receptivity.