How I Want To Change Yoga

Hi Everyone, today's topic is a little bit different; I've been thinking a lot lately and I feel very strongly about this topic, even more so now that I am an instructor.

I feel like as a society, we have made Yoga up to be something that it is not, and we have strayed so far from the point, that the way it is represented in mainstream media is all wrong.

Take a look at these two pictures.

The first, I took around a year after I started doing yoga. This picture says, "Look at me, look at how flexible I am, look at how fancy of a pose I can do!" I put this picture as well as a whole bunch of difficult looking poses on social media, because I was happy that I could finally do something well.

Now, there is nothing wrong with that at all, because it is good, no, excellent to be proud of your achievements, and how far you have come.

BUT

There has to be a balance. If, as a yogi, you choose to only put advanced pictures like this out into the internet world, you are sending the message that Yoga is all about the final outcome, reaching some sort of physical goal that can be seen from the outside. Which directly contradicts one of the core beliefs of Yoga, which is letting go of ego, and being content with yourself no matter where you are.

You might be thinking that I have blown this out of proportion, but this is so important. I have been contacted by so many people regarding the classes I instruct, and one of the main issues people have is the fear of not being flexible, fit, or experienced enough to start. People see pictures like the one above, all over the internet, and think, "Man, what if they make me do that at the first class," "How will I ever get there."

And that puts a lot of people off. This is normal however, and it's not just like this with Yoga, it's the same with any other form of activity. As a society, we are driven by the final outcome. We don't stop tp enjoy the process. Which is not what Yoga is about, at all.

This is where the second picture comes in.
I took it more recently, and you can see that I am still pushing myself a little, and getting a stretch in, but it is a lot more simple, a lot less "Look at what I can do."
Which is an important thing to put out there.

Show people who know nothing about Yoga and who are interested in trying it out, that it is different from other activities in the way that the process is valued more than the outcome. That no matter how experienced you are, those basic poses are still so important.

It's about doing the best you can do, in the present moment; and connecting with your body.

Whether you can touch your toes or not in a forward bend is not the issue. It's whether you can feel the pull, and feel that connection to the body.

There are countless more points and presses I could make about this, but the overall point is that,

No one is ever GOOD at yoga. If you think you are "good" at yoga you are most definitely far from it, because the thought of being "good" at it, directly contradicts what you should be feeling.

It should not be something you conquer, it should be a way for you to learn how to live in the present moment and connect with the body, no matter how far you can go or not.

Ending off, I would like to say that by all means you may put pictures of fancy poses up. If this makes you feel happy, DO IT! Just don't forget to add in some simple ones as well, to let those out there know that it's about the process, and not the outcome.

I hope you all have a wonderful day further, and please feel free to comment and share your opinion.

Namaste