The #1 Sign that you're an ADVANCED Yogi
I was joking with my Gentle Yoga class a couple of weeks ago that I can always tell when someone is an “ADVANCED”** Yogi.
Can you guess what it is? It’s not what you might think.
For the purposes of this post, we’ll call “ADVANCED” Yogis people who ask for or use support when needed or desired. They put blocks under hands, rest when they are tired, ask for extra blankets or a sandbag.
Sounds kind of silly doesn’t it? It’s a really profound thing when you think about it because these small choices on the mat tend to mirror it how we live our lives off of our mat as well.
When we first come to Yoga, most of us think that our “competence” and “worth” as a yoga student is in touching our toes or the floor, being independent, knowing exactly what we are supposed to be doing, or pushing through without rest. These beliefs come from stories we’ve been told or adopted that we aren’t enough as we are, and we must STRIVE to be worthy—to be BETTER.
This plays out in our lives off the mat when we go to work or school when we are sick; work extra long hours just to get one more thing done; have a “stiff upper lip” when we are hurting, do it ALL ourselves, strive to keep a perfect house/yard/appearance; add one more activity to our family’s calendar—even when we’re running ragged—so we won’t miss out.
These stories become our “truth” and we have difficulty seeing other options like allowing downtime is also a healthy choice; or asking for help may not only benefit me but the person who is supporting me.
All this STRIVING and PERFECTION leads to isolation from others, procrastination, feeling disappointed in ourselves, or not starting new things because we may fail.
Yoga reminds us that we are of this Universe, and as such, are whole and worthy just as we are. Yogic practices are aimed at identifying these stories as false (Avidya), so that we can more clearly see our connection to the wonders around us (Vidya).
“Yoga reminds us that we are of this Universe, and as such,
we are whole and worthy just as we are.”
Yogic Practice in Vidya:
Avidya is unclear sight. It includes the “stories” we tell ourselves about the world around us and the beliefs we hold that cut us off from ourselves and each other. Yogic practices help us with Vidya, or clear seeing, so that we remember are wholeness and our divinity. Here’s a little Vidya practice you can do the next time you’re on the yoga mat.
Listen to your internal dialogue when the teacher mentions a prop that may be helpful. Do you internally say, “Ooooh, let’s give that a try,” or is it something more like, “I don’t need that. I SHOULD be able to do it without support,” or “If I use that prop, I won’t be working hard enough,” or just a general feeling of vulnerability in receiving support. When the teacher says, “Could you be even 5% more comfortable in Savasana?” Notice if your dialogue says, “Yes, I’ll wave my hand for support,” or if it says something more like, “I could, but they are busy. I don’t want to bother them.”
Then check in and ask yourself, in daily life if you operate under those same stories. Stories like:
If I want it done (or done right), I need to do it myself.
Asking for help is a weakness.
I’ll bother someone if I ask for help.
I’m lazy if I rest.
I need to do more or be better.
(Psst: I (Jodie) know these stories and many more like them on a very intimate level. In fact, they still visit me on occasion. Just in case you feel like you’re alone in this, you aren’t. You’re in good company. I can assure you that!)
If one of those stories, or another like it feels true for you, MAYBE—-JUST MAYBE, you practice resting, or using support, or asking for help in a yoga class. Then sit with how that makes you feel. It may be REALLY HARD at first. It may even feel really vulnerable. Just be curious about what you discover there. Who knows, it could lead to some really amazing insights in your daily life too.
One of the things I notice is the graduates of our Yoga Teacher Training program are confident enough in their bodies to ask for support when needed or desired, and they have befriended their bodies in a way that allows them to listen to what their body needs. This follows them off the yoga mat as well.
In our Yoga Teacher Training, we focus on practices that focus on developing Vidya, or clear seeing, so we can release those old beliefs which no longer serve us.
If you are feel the shackles of Avidya, and would like to see yourself , your life, and the world more clearly, perhaps this is the year for you to explore yoga teacher training. We have just 2 spots remaining in the 2020 class, and I have extended the early bird rate until 2/8/20. If this opportunity has been tugging at your heart, feel free to reach out to me at info@supremepeaceyoga.com to schedule a time to chat this week, or click on the link below to find out more information.
**I really don’t even like the word “ADVANCED” in yoga, and in our teacher training, I teach that it’s a taboo word. But, many of us are obsessed with the word “ADVANCED” so I thought I’d use it to illustrate my point here.