In response to the Washington Post article “VA Yoga Regulation a Stretch for Teachers,” 2 December, 2009, the comment ‘I’m not flexible enough to do yoga’ is a major part of the misunderstanding and the problem here. Although most students do find their way to yoga through the external physical poses, yoga is far more than exercises! Rather, through the poses we begin to break down the barriers that we’ve created that we perceive as our limitations and we begin to realise our limitless potential. If we are merely doing the postures then we cannot really claim to be practicing (‘doing’) yoga!
From a very early age we are taught to label, to be competitive, and to divide “I” and the rest of the world. In the practice of yoga, in the investigation of our ‘self, we begin to let go of our judging and comparing and labeling. If we believe we are ‘good’ at something, then we must consider ourselves not so good, or ‘bad’ at something else by comparison. The problem is then compounded when we relate this to other people and become “better” than him/her at this and that. This labeling of ourselves, and worse, of other people, gives us a sense of control, and a sense of who we are in this world, but at what cost? We are judging ourselves and others all the time!
Yoga is releasing our attachment to all this. It is a path of liberation through investigation of our self, and it’s about realising that we are seeking happiness and love so hey! — let’s treat everyone, through thought, act and deed, as we would like to be treated.
OK, so the postures of yoga can, yes, make you flexible and strong, but this is not the goal — just a by-product. Who is the ‘yogi’ (or ‘yogini!) here? — the one who can handstand and flip over into a beautiful backbend then goes home and kicks the dog, or the one who can’t quite touch their toes in a forward bend, but who is kind, courteous and thoughtful to both friends, family, and strangers alike.
The state council of higher education of virginia clearly does not understand what yoga is.
Tags: VA Yoga Regulation, Yoga, yoga instruction