Do We Really Have Bad Yoga Practices?

L.A. Wilson is a writer, editor, and marketer living in Fort Worth, Texas. She is a dedicated yoga student, practicing Hatha Yoga as often as she can.

Recently when I was practicing yoga I was fighting it. That’s the only word I can come up with: fighting. Something in me was fighting hard. My mind refused to stay in the postures and even my body didn’t want to bend or make effort. Then, moving into headstand, not even IN headstand but going up into headstand, I fell flat on my back, hard, even managing to come off the rug I was practicing on and land everything from the shoulders down on cold, unyielding tile.

The words “I’ve landed flat on my back” popped into my head. That was, ironically, exactly what I needed to happen. It’s what I needed to become aware of: I feel like I’ve landed flat on my back. In fact, I’ve never believed that I can land on my feet. With the problems I’ve been having in headstand lately, I’m afraid to go up into the unknown, don’t trust that I can go there, that I can “achieve” this pose. The fear of falling flat keeps me from excelling.

After that I decided I had definitely earned some time in child's pose. Going into that pose the voice said, “I’ve been fighting since I was a child.” I suddenly felt very tired, and knew that I no longer wanted to keep fighting. Then my mind finally surrendered and relaxed. Like a petulant child, once I had paid attention, the mind stopped misbehaving. I received the gift of realization that the constant fighting is a manifestation of my fear: not being in control.

Do we really have bad yoga practices? The daily practice is what it is and no more. Maybe we need a bad yoga practice to bring us to an awareness that we’re not getting on our “good” days when we can be smug about what a great Warrior II we accomplished.

The trick is listening. Falling flat on my back forced me to listen. Next time you’re having trouble with a pose, instead of trying harder or just resigning yourself that this is one of “those” days, breathe and listen. You will be amazed at what you suddenly come to know.

L.A. Wilson can be reached at lawilson0525@yahoo.com.

What is a yoga practice? by L.A. Wison

L.A. Wilson is a writer, editor, and marketer living in Fort Worth, Texas. She is a dedicated yoga student, practicing Hatha Yoga several times a week in Arlington, Texas.

What is a yoga practice? Is it exercise? Meditation? Just a bunch of stretching? Yoga is whatever you make it to be. It depends on what you bring to your practice and the intention that you set. Just as with any physical exercise, yoga provides far more than just fitness.

To complement means to complete, make whole. With that in mind, yoga is a complement to everything we do. It challenges limits and improves performance in other fitness activities, accelerates weight loss, deepens meditation and heals the body. It brings a sense of calm and purpose to the mind.

Each yoga practice is unique. I have practiced with body builders who swear by the flexibility that only the deep stretching of yoga can provide. Working with weights and yoga have a lot in common—using the breath, correct stance, and discipline. Runners also benefit from the breath work, stamina and flexibility obtained through yoga.

The most inspiring people with whom I have practiced are women who are trying to reclaim their bodies after years of neglect. They are usually the hardest to persuade to take a class and end up being the student who never misses. They think yoga will be easy and are surprised not only by how much effort is required but that they enjoy the work. They are also amazed at how calm they are after their practice and have learned to carry that peace into their daily lives. For these women, the hour on the mat is time dedicated to themselves, a pause in their life of caring for others.

For me, yoga practice is not only exercise but necessary physical therapy to relieve chronic tight muscles caused by a short leg and resultant scoliosis. But what I really enjoy about yoga is the mental exercise it provides. Not only do I learn something about my body during time on the mat, I also see what tricks my mind is up to as I bring my awareness back to the practice and follow my breathing. I always emerge either very calm or energized, depending on the session. Another bonus is that I shed inches faster when I’m actively practicing yoga than when I do only aerobic-type exercises.

Yoga complements life. Learning to connect breath with movement creates more awareness. Taking that off the mat, you will bring more unity to your daily activities and your life.

L.A. Wilson can be reached at lawilson0525@yahoo.com.