do your own thing

Block used in Bound Half Moon Pose

If you've practiced yoga before, you've surely heard a teacher encourage you to modify certain postures. Drop your knees here, use a block there and don't be afraid to look different. Yet so many students would rather huff and puff their way through an uncomfortable pose than look like a wuss or use a dreaded prop. Modifying seems to have such a terrible stigma!

We know that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to their mind and body. There is no one universal diet, job, food, activity or music that is perfect for everyone and the same is true for yoga practice. Why on earth should all those different bodies look the same in any one posture? How many students are fighting through certain poses because he or she thinks that it should look a certain way or that modifying means "not good enough?" 

The real question comes down to this: do you want to practice yoga or do you want to look like you're "good at" yoga? The truth hurts. Literally. 

As a yoga practitioner and as an instructor, I ADORE seeing yogis do their own thing. It's very cool to notice someone binding a pose I wouldn't have thought to bind or heading back to Child's Pose because it feels good. But I think I die a little inside each time I see someone slamming through 12 mangled chaturangas during a sun salutation. *Note: there is a glaring and perceptible difference between having a fast-paced or spirited practice and a mindless, ego-driven practice.

When you're deeply connected to your practice, it's beautiful, quiet and obvious. Beautiful because it's creative, quiet because it's humble and obvious because it's so personal. You set a tone for those around you because you're so openly there for yourself and you're not afraid. When someone is practicing with the intention to look a certain way, it's sad because they're missing out and painfully conspicuous because they're not in control of their mind/ego. 

Spread the word: modifying is the real joy of yoga practice. Adapting each pose to make it your own means you're actually paying attention to yourself. Yoga injuries wouldn't exist in a world full of yoga blocks and rests in Child's Pose. Ever wonder how a yogi who's so "in shape" can end up with back problems, torn ligaments or knee replacements years later? Because something was wrong and they never sincerely listened. Get quiet. Know when to deepen, back off or completely stop. Pay attention to your body, your intuition, your instructors and your mind and you will learn something valuable from all of them.

#keepyogacozy

yoga selfies: to share, or not to share?

Back in July, you may have seen the New York Times article called, "Yoga Practitioners Gaze at Their Inner Selfies."Author Kayleen Shaffer examined the juxtaposition of vanity and yoga and created quite a stir among supporters and haters alike. Though nobody wants to admit it, most selfies are about vanity; but with yoga, there's another dynamic: yoga isn't supposed to be about the shape of the poses. (If it were, it would be a competition that pre-teen gymnasts would win.) If it's so much about controlling the mind, breath and ego, are we trivializing the practice by snapping photos of ourselves in awesome poses? Or are we just celebrating this beautiful practice? In a world where many yogis also enjoy photography and iPhone apps, how do we strike a balance?

As an instructor, I have a love/hate relationship with selfie yoga photos. I love the inspiration that we can glean from others photos; getting ideas for our practice or new friends for support is great. But what I dislike is the way that yoga is represented in many of these photos. Is it making yoga feel too exclusive or intimidating? Are we portraying an art form or just snapping crappy photos to show-off? Is some of it over-sexualized? (That's hilariously rhetorical.) 

Whether you're a beginner or have been mindfully practicing yoga for years, we all need to keep our wide, diverse audience in mind; they're developing opinions about yoga, creating new goals or trying new poses. Though it's up to any practitioner to monitor their body in any pose, we (as selfie-posters) still have a responsibility to express our passion in a fitting way, not always a flawless, unrealistic reality. Balance your humdinger photos with peaceful, basic asanas.

Once you've come to grips with the idea of even sharing a yoga self-portrait, consider the Instagram "yoga challenges." Each day, the host of the challenge shares a pose for followers to mimic and share their versions. Often, winners are chosen at the end. (Sometimes, the word 'challenge' is just an unimaginative synonym for the word, 'competition.') Though these can be a great way to get yogis motivated for daily practice, they also can be a perfect way to encourage mindless, ego-driven practice....a recipe for disaster and injury.

That all being said, you'll find lots of yoga photos on my iPhone, here on the blog and some on my Instagram feed, even though I still dislike the idea of selfies. This blogger explained it well:

"Yes, there are some beautiful people performing near perfect poses, but more often than not, these are people who love yoga and want to share their passion. There are teachers who now have a new outlet to teach and can break down a pose in both words and photos. Photography is also a very powerful tool. It allows me to see myself in a pose, to pinpoint the areas that I need to work on and, most importantly, to document progress."

Yoga selfies are a great way to show steps-by-step instruction

I think it's pretty cool that yogis all around the world can unite and share interesting poses in unique places or artful ways. It's fascinating to see all the different people and it's equally fascinating to catch tiny glimpses of my own practice that I never get to see. I can hang on to a moment of how I felt in these poses...free, open, balanced or strong. And other yogis on Instagram have inspired my practice or given me ideas for teaching. What do non-yogis think of these photos? I don't know. But yoga photographer Robert Sturman says, in his own words, "I often think of Rumi: 'I Can't stop pointing to the beauty.' That feels right to me." It's okay that yoga is inherently beautiful.

If you're not sure about it or you've never tried it, maybe download a timer app and try your own yoga selfie or two. You certainly don't need to share or post any of the photos, but it's exciting to see such simple beauty through yourself in any yoga posture. If you're worried about doing the pose "wrong" or not looking good enough, it's also an excellent platform to step out of your comfort zone. :) What are your thoughts?