Yoga:  Mental, Physical, Spiritual(?)

I don't get it.  Am I supposed to be feeling some kind of transcendence in my yoga class, leaving all blissed out.  All I'm feeling is a pain in my SI Joint.  What gives?  I think I'm supposed to be keeping my mind steady and "going inside."  I find that impossible with all the talking, my neighbor's heavy breathing and my sweat rolling down my arm and dripping on my new eco-friendly, super sticky, Jade Yoga mat (uh, I wish I had remembered to bring my topper).  I've been told to come to yoga to relieve stress, but jeez, why can everyone else balance on one foot but me?  I'm feeling even more stressed.  

Those of us new and old to yoga usually find our practices evolving.  Many of us came to yoga for the physicality of the practice and end up finding much more.  Yoga can help take us out of the mind and into the body.  Our society rewards multi-tasking, overworking, and doing it all (especially for women).  It's easy for your energy to hang 90% of the time above the neck. Yoga requires the mind to loosen its grip and start a conversation with the body.(1)  Sometimes a loud and raucous conversation.  Thus, the so called Mind-Body connection.  There becomes a dance between the two.  When you're trying to practice Natarajasana (King Dancers Pose, see photo above), the mind and body must find their balance, literally.  And what a beautiful dance it is.   

Your yoga practice can be about a larger yogic or lifestyle system, for example, The Eight Limbs of Patanjali, which incorporate not only the physical movement (asanas), but breathing, ethics, and meditation.  Is there a spiritual aspect to yoga?  Definitely, as your practice can be a way to connect to your higher self or higher power.  Many yoga practices concentrate on using the connection with the body to bring on different mind states via the movement of energy via the breath or postures.     

I like to find a connection to what is happening on my mat and how I can translate that to "the real world".  Does the strength you find in plank pose relate to feeling powerful in your relationships?  What about balance--finding the sweet spot, neither too stiff or too soft in Tree Pose.  It's just like life, isn't it.  Too rigid in your thoughts and your mind shuts down or too unsteady and you lose conviction.  Think the ability to touch your toes is just for ultra-flexible ex-ballet dancers?  Consider how your flexibility in class relates to your flexibility in your life.  If you can continue to breathe as you find the sweet spot between effort and ease in Uttanasana (standing forward fold), you've accomplished a lot.  Really, it's hard.  Can you work on flexibility in dealing with your teenager or your spouse?  Sometimes hanging with discomfort in  yoga can help us overcome the tendency to avoid conflict or discomfort when we have to deal with difficult situations. 

Whether you go to yoga for tighter abs, a calm and still mind, or to as a gateway to your higher power, or all three, it's all good, as they say.  Sure beats the couch and reruns of The Wire. You can probably still make it home after yoga for John Stewart, a whole wheat pita, tofu and spinach wrap with a tahini-yogurt sauce.  And, to keep things balanced, Ciao Bella's All Natural Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream. 

(1)   Compare this with the gym folks who are on the stationary bike, reading a magazine, with headphones and the TV blaring in the distance.