Spark Your Own Revolution | Yoga: A Radical Act of Self-Love
In today’s culture, it continues to be a radical act just to accept ourselves as we are. Negative body issues and low self-worth and esteem are epidemic—across all bodies and beings. Whatever adjectives we might apply to ourselves, just feeling good about ourselves, being satisfied with who we are when we look in the mirror or walk down the street -- is revolutionary. We must continually unpack and unlearn all the crap that our misogynistic, homophobic, racist, xenophobic media and culture have convinced us of throughout our lives — that we are less than or not worthy if we look like anything other than what's centered and validated as mainstream "normal" or "beautiful." The negative self-talk and body dysmorphia caused by such marginalizing and shaming of the feminine form, of fatness, and of difference is truly the epidemic of our culture. Not to mention rude.
Enter yoga into the conversation. This centuries old practice was historically exclusive to men. So for women and those who don't identify as men, practicing yoga is, in and of itself, a radical and revolutionary act. It becomes even more revolutionary in today's Westernized culture (with all of its aforementioned issues) where yoga has been colonized and appropriated, claimed and aggrandized, stripped down and diluted from it’s complex and contemplative whole-being manifestation to simple physical fitness + exercise for the worthy and able-bodied few. In many studios and gyms, yoga mirrors the rest of our culture and fitness classes: if it’s not fast and hard and sweaty, if it doesn’t make you hurt, tie you into a pretzel, or give you the opportunity to develop six-pack abs or arthritis in your neck, it’s not a “good” workout, a “good” class, or a “hard” or “advanced” practice. (How and why "hard and fast" are not good indicators of a good yoga class is for another discussion.) But ...
Yoga (true yoga, not just calisthenics called yoga) is much more than a physical practice, if it is to be considered one at all. It is, at its core, a science, a lifestyle, a dedication. It is a mindful practice, a meditative practice, a breath practice moving through the body. It is not a singularly focused journey to a “better” body, it is, rather, “a journey of the self, through the self, to the self” (thank you, Papa Iyengar). The physical practice or poses (the asana) that we SEE and DO and think of as “yoga” in our culture, is but the beginning, but one of eight core limbs and multiple core tenets that comprise the foundational philosophy of yoga as put forth by the sage Patanjali (maybe) 1,500 years ago (about). And that basis, that practice, that self-study is what give us the power to accept ourselves, to break through cultural patterns and perceptions, and love the ever living fuck out of every little bit and piece of ourselves.
Ultimately, yoga should be a safe, affirming, sustainable practice and experience, a fully self-accepting journey, for all. For each individual, yoga is its own unique expression and experience of self-discovery, well being + divine connection. As a shared experience, yoga is communal, supportive, and empowering for any and all folks who choose to practice, whatever their gender, background, or body.
As a yoga instructor … I do not think of myself as a fitness or exercise instructor. I’m a student of yoga facilitating another’s studentship of yoga.The paradox is that yoga, ultimately, is a fitness practice on every level — fitness of mind, body and spirit. It is a connection with all three of these aspects of the self through the lens of ancient and humbling truths.
For many people, yoga does indeed start with physical movement, with the asana, with yoga as an exercise. You just do it, you just keep showing up over and over again, not even having a reason or knowing why, but you do it anyway because maybe it gets you out of the house or out of your head. And it makes a difference, even if you can’t put your finger on what or why or how exactly, but it makes you feel some kind of way, so you go back and do it again. And again. And maybe the anticipated changes and advantages aren’t expected or obvious or seemingly attainable. But soon, before you know it, without even believing it or looking for it, days, weeks, months, years later, you start to notice changes, progress that is unstoppable, beautiful, almost magical. Transformation starts to happen from the inside out, all because you started working from the outside in.
And what was really the practice wasn’t the physical postures at all, but the internal resolve to show up on the mat and move and breathe and develop a relationship with yourself, to take deep stock of your inner beauty, core qualities, best and worst self, and all the while you are moving and breathing and your body is strengthening, your mind is clearing, and the flexibility and balance you’ve cultivated on the mat now begins to manifest in your daily life, in your thoughts, words, and deeds…towards yourself and others.
And all you had to do was show up, all you had to do was be there — imperfect and messy and curious and willing to see what would happen, to take a chance, to take a chance on YOURSELF, on YOU, because if you don’t, who will?
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