Here is an old Cherokee story...

 

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.  He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 'wolves' inside us all.  One is the 'evil wolf': anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.  The other is the 'good wolf':  joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."  The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"  The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

 

Which wolf do you want to feed?  Do you desire independence from the angry, envious, self-degrading and jealous 'evil wolf'?  Every breath in each yoga practice is an opportunity to break free from the bonds of these behaviors.  When in a yoga pose, you might observe the person next to you and envy their flexibility and strength, and perhaps wish that if only you were a little more like that person, then you would be happier and more fulfilled.  The outcome is suffering - with thoughts of inadequacy and self-mutilation.

 

Or... one can feed the 'good wolf' of joy, peace, love, humility and kindness.  Keep the focus inside the body and breathe into the pleasure of you.   Notice the lengthening of your muscles and tendons, feel the strength that you are building, breathe deep, and delight in what you can do today.  When one drops the drama of what can't be done, and turns the focus on what can, the 'good wolf' is fed, creating independence from the destructive behaviors of the 'evil wolf'.

 

This independence is achieved one breath at a time, with lots of practice and some sweat along the way!

That's an easy question to answer. Why would we want to kill ourselves? Having a STRONG yoga practice is not the same as having a practice in which we're consumed with how STRONG we are. That old saying, No Pain... No Gain  has no place in traditional yoga. A student who enjoys a strong practice has developed the fine dance between beautiful asanas and hard work. Their practice appears effortless.  Lets remember a true yoga practice takes discipline, time and commitment. As we deepen our practice our minds become still and the asanas become subtle in nature. In this state we begin to realize the transformational effects of yoga. We become more in tune with our breath, our body and our inner being.  Think of yoga practice as a sanctuary where you learn to listen to your body.  Practicing yoga consistently will remove the clutter that consumes us,  making room for more clarity, joy, refinement, freedom and harmony in our lives. Yoga unlocks the bliss that resides in each and everyone of us. Begin to listen to your inner body and enjoy all the benefits that yoga can bring to your life.