What you said
about us on
social mediaThere’s a great piece in the September issue of
@omyogamagazine by Meg Jackson @real_life_yoga. Bendy
but Bitchy: about the subtle benefits of yoga being lost on a
good many people. I am saddened by the number of people
who have approached me recently - teachers and students
- and retold an experience of their yoga journey which has
made them unhappy, hurt them physically or emotionally and
asked me if it is ‘normal’.
The yoga community, like any community, has its challenges,
all the ‘personalities’, different styles, modalities, schools,
amplified by all the images, expectations real and unrealistic,
it’s easy to see that rather than being inclusive, embracing
and engaging it can feel the very opposite for some. That’s
sad isn’t it? I’ve always tried to support, encourage and
sponsor my colleagues. I want us all to be successful for our
students and ourselves. But this community can put some off
by the over emphasis on the physical aspects and some are
wary of the more internal spiritual or psychological elements
and the perceived ‘culty’ or cliquey vibe can alienate.
For me it’s about remaining authentic and holding true to
what first got me hooked on my practice. Yes, initially it was
the physical but over time yoga has a sly and clever way of
sneaking up on you, and with that physical practice came
the more subtle but more powerful benefits. Its not a linear
journey. I’m not a ‘perfect yogi ‘ (whatever that means?) by
any stretch. I’m not saintly, I like gin (it’s vegan – JOKE!), I
swear and I struggle with ego, comparison & competition...
and some days my practice isn’t as kind as it should be. Does
that make me less worthy of being eligible or part of this
community?
No. So what if I post my practice - does it lessen it? It is
my commercial business too. So what if I’m happy to have
overcome morbid fear to
be working on inversions
in my practice for example
- that’s where my practice
is today. It doesn’t mean
I’m less, less ‘yogi’ or crown
chakra enlightened, better,
worse, more or less. It is
what it is. Today. What this
practice has taught me is
that you can choose what
you need and then choose
to do that. Today choose
to be happy.^
sam_edwards_yoganix
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