What do you think of when you hear the word yoga? If you’re anything like I was at the beginning my yoga journey two years ago, your mind may have been quick to conjure up images of overpriced mats, elaborate poses, steamy rooms and people with preternaturally toned abs, arms and butts. What you may not know, however, is that this physical aspect of yoga, which we tend to associate with gyms, spas and tight-fitting pants, is only the tip of the iceberg when discussing yoga. Known as the asanas, yoga in its physical sense comprises only one of the eight limbs, or sets of practices, of yoga. The others offer a set of guidelines on everything from breathing and meditation techniques to ethical principles that extend well beyond the confines of that Wednesday night yoga class. While yoga obviously yields benefits galore for the body, and while I can happily say that I’m in better physical shape now than I was when I started in 2014, I am even more thankful to yoga for the positive effects that it has had on my mind and spirit. It’s made me a better student, worker, sister, daughter, lover and friend, and I strongly believe that it can do the same for anyone who wants to learn and grow.
Yoga teaches you not to compare yourself to others.
One of the first things that you’ll notice if you take a yoga class is that while you’re in a group setting, your work is done on an individual basis. It’s tailored to your personal goals and the limitations that you want to overcome for yourself. Most yoga instructors encourage their students to create their own personal intention for that day’s class, be it breathing consciously, staying present or simply being patient with oneself. For every pose an instructor will lead the class in performing, there are infinite modifications that make a pose easier or more challenging, and if executing a pose becomes too much to handle, you simply go into the very comfortable “child’s pose”, breathe, and try again when you feel ready. There is a well-acknowledged understanding of the fact that no two bodies are alike, and that we are not all governed by the same physical limitations. Self-awareness is encouraged, and progress is defined not by being the strongest or most flexible person in one’s class, but by one’s own personal growth. You learn to be content with yourself, and you learn not to compare yourself to others who do not have your exact same set of strengths and weaknesses.
Yoga helps you handle stress and adapt to change.
The world is faster-paced now than it ever has been before. Circumstances are always changing, sometimes more quickly than we can handle. The internet and social media connect us to most of the world, and news is diffused globally at light speed. With this growing awareness of the world around us, we also become more aware of the suffering that exists. In the midst of tragic events in Orlando, Istanbul, Baton Rouge, Falcon Heights, Dallas, among countless others that haven’t received equal amounts of press coverage, this awareness is a double-edged sword. Of course, it is incumbent on humankind to make ourselves aware of the world’s injustices so that we can stand in solidarity, support one another, and work to effect positive change. However, this knowledge also comes with tremendous emotional burdens, and consequent anxiety and panic. Yoga teaches you how to meditate and clear your mind, and how to focus on your breathing when you feel paralyzed by stress. We learn how to maintain a sense of calm, even in the midst of chaos, and this enables us to maintain strength under painful circumstances, make better decisions since our judgment is not affected by our emotions, and be more supportive of people who need our help. In a world that is constantly moving and changing, not always in ways that we can easily process or comprehend, yoga offers not only a sense of constancy, but the coping mechanisms that we need in order to survive.
Yoga gives you control over your own happiness.
One of the primary focuses of yoga is the creation of one’s own happiness and inner peace. One of the niyamas of yoga, santosha, encourages adherents to find contentment in the present, as opposed to devoting energy to regretting the past or fearing the future. This doesn’t mean that yoga encourages its followers to not actively pursue their goals and aspirations, but rather that we are taught to simply do our best, without basing our self-worth on the outcomes of these efforts. We learn how to appreciate the beauty in every moment, and even in ourselves. When we learn to adjust our mindsets so that we are not destabilized by everything and everyone around us, and when we learn how to be vessels of our own happiness, the need to find love and gratification outside of ourselves dissipates. We become better friends because we’re less likely to engage in toxic relationships or emotionally drain others. We become better partners because we can see the beauty in people without idolizing or having unrealistic expectations of them, and we learn to treat ourselves with the same love and compassion that we give to other people.
In the time that I’ve taken to discover these truths for myself, so many aspects of my life have changed for the better. I’ve become more confident and self-assured. I’ve made discoveries about myself as a person, and I’ve learned the importance of remaining true to who I am, not allowing anything or anyone to compromise my sense of self. I have yet to discover the elusive meaning of life, and I still make all the mistakes in the world along the way, but I have found my sense of purpose and my place in the world, and it’s truly made all the difference.
