It’s Not What You Think
During the Open Your Lotus workshop on Saturday, a student asked me what to do. “I feel fearful about my knees when approaching lotus pose,” she said.
Last year, during the Arm Balance workshop,
Recently, a fellow yoga teacher was puzzled when I explained that a student who feels criticized in class was lucky to be having such an experience to heal an old would, or samskara.
It’s not what you think. The pose you are afraid of won’t hurt you; the reason we do arm balances isn’t to get strong arms; and the teacher who adjusted you isn’t criticizing you.
No, it’s far more powerful than that! But, admittedly, these reactions can be confusing.
Know this. Yoga unlocks stored energy in the body. If you stored away your fear about losing something in your life long ago, rest assured, your fear will come knocking when you take a risk in yoga class. If you are constantly criticizing yourself, you will bring that pattern into class,making your practice a competition, the teacher the judge. If you think arm balances will strengthen your arms– yes, they will.
But that’s not the point! The point of the yoga practice is to see your pattern and serve it without giving into your knee- jerk reaction. The practice is to meet, greet and welcome whatever is arising. By allowing the energy to be– without judging it or getting sucked into the story behind it— the energy is transformed, and so are you! It’s just that simple– but not easy.
Next time you’re on your mat, pay attention to the emotions and sensations arising. Simply notice them with equanimity. Get curious about them. It’s not what you think. What you think is simply the mind’s trick to keep you stuck right where you are.
Instead, with each exhale, let go of the story, let go of criticizing and competing and judging. Instead, practice witnessing the experience of being and feeling and enjoy the freedom it brings!
See you on the mat!
Love and light,
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