Working In

“Yoga is not a workout. It’s a work-in.” – Rolf Gates

Beginning a yoga practice with those first few minutes of quiet on our mats sets us on a path toward self-study, or Svadyaya, in Sanskrit. When I first began practicing yoga, this threw me. I was always impatient to get started, get moving, learn the poses, get it right. Over a great deal of time, I slowly understood that this quiet space is yoga. Turning inward, checking in with not just our physical state, but also our mental and emotional states, brings us into the here and now. It’s a time out from busyness, from constant doing, from going through our daily routine without being present. We sit, we may close our eyes, we notice, and we breathe. These simple actions set the stage for a practice which, over time, can be transformative.

That which is simple isn’t necessarily easy, of course. Sitting still with nothing but our chatty brains for company can be extremely uncomfortable, even confrontational for many of us. Gradually, though, it becomes habitual, this delving in. It evolves into an integral part of a well-rounded class, or personal practice. We start to realize the benefits to our nervous system that come from breathing intentionally. We practice the art of discernment, allowing our bodies to guide us in our movements. We learn to interpret our moods and how they affect us on our yoga mats, and off in our lives. We get to know ourselves better.

This self-knowledge is the whole point. It’s not really about the asana, the shapes we make with our bodies, though the movement is a part of it too. And a truly valuable, often fun part, excellent for our physical health. By getting attuned to ourselves and getting up close and personal with the reality of the present moment, a certain freedom is gained: the freedom to be exactly who we are.

Consider taking this practice of working inward off your mat, and into your daily life. Find a moment throughout your day to pause, take a few deep breaths, and just notice what arises in your mind and body. This can be as brief as time allows; perhaps just three deep breaths to calm and center yourself. Or you can linger, seated or lying down. Begin by taking a deep inhale and exhale and notice where you feel the breath. Do this a few times, then guide your attention toward any emotion you’re feeling, and see if you experience that emotion somewhere in your physical body. Perhaps a tightness in the chest, tension in the neck and shoulders, or a throb in the temples. Continue breathing and observing the effect your breath has on this physical sensation.  Stay as long as you’re able or have time for. Close this moment by again taking a few deep breaths, allowing whatever is, to be.

We live in an age of constant distraction. Our attention is incessantly hijacked by our outer lives, by work, notifications on our phones, an abrasive news cycle. When we give ourselves time to simply sit and be, not only do we grant ourselves a wee respite, but clarity, however brief, is gained.

The more we experience this working in, the more our yoga practice grows into an extension of ourselves, a beautiful form of self-expression. When we align breath and movement to what we need in any given moment, yoga ceases to be merely exercise. Yoga not only connects us to our true selves, and to the people around us, but also allows a glimpse of something unfathomably bigger.

So let yourself sit for a few minutes. Just be there, fully alive and awake, maybe even uncomfortably so. Let everything be as it is, so you can be who you are.