Game-Changing Yoga Wisdom

Feb 2024

Around 7 years ago, I read something that flipped my yoga practice on its head. While it didn't have anything to do with headstands, it reshaped how I approached yoga entirely.

The game-changer? A quote by Yin Yoga teacher and author, Bernie Clark: "We do not use the body to get into the pose; we use the pose to get into our body." (Whoa!) While he was referring to Yin Yoga specifically, I believe this advice can be applied to all styles.

For so many years I had approached my practice with the opposite mindset. I spent my energy contorting, pushing, pulling, and molding my body into the shape of each posture, often at the expense of my inner peace (and dare I say, joints!) Can you relate?

When I applied Bernie's advice to my asana practice, I was able to let go of the habit of excessive striving and, in turn, begin embracing both my body and the present moment. His wisdom offers a refreshing perspective—that yoga postures are here to assist us in feeling more embodied and present, and we don't have to tie ourselves in knots trying to fit into each posture.

I invite you to think about your own approach toward your yoga practice. While there is nothing wrong with effort and physical goals, consider the following question:

Are you allowing your yoga practice to nurture your mind, body, and spirit or are you giving too much?