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Yoga Bits
Morsels of yogic wisdom and information
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Oct. 8 - 14, 2012
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Why did you change the class schedule!?!
Don't sweat it, just
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Become a fan of Budgie Bhajan! Click here to like his page
on Facebook
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Celebrate Yourself
You're a tough act to follow
"Don't try to fit in. You fit perfectly in you." -- Yogi Bhajan I realize this violates the stereotype of the yoga teacher but...I curse like a trucker. Actually, maybe like a sailor. No, really it's more like a news reporter on deadline (which I actually used to be). Regardless of how you describe it, I do love to express myself with expletives deleted.
Many times I was told it wasn't ladylike to use such language. I'll admit that wasn't a particularly persuasive argument to use with me but I  | | No two are alike |
thought it over and I did make an effort to reform. I spent a year trying to drastically alter my speech and demeanor while I was working in an office that was more "corporate" than any other I'd encountered. Unlike the newsroom, people weren't routinely screaming vulgarities at each other across six rows of desks and not taking it personally.
I felt like a bull in a China shop in the more tame workplace. It's possible I was imagining it, but it seemed like every time I opened my mouth people were startled either by the content or volume of my words. In response, I tried to speak softly and rarely -- and I attempted to emulate the polite vocabulary of those around me saying things like, "Shoot" and "Darn it." It was kind of a disaster but I'm really glad I tried. I learned from that experience that even if my way of being was "wrong" in other people's opinions, it was important to be myself. Trying to change to conform to an ill-fitting standard was a fast ticket to extreme discontent. |
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We all long to belong. This desire is a part of the human condition that is rooted in a survival instinct to tie us to the "pack." However, there is a limit to the benefit of blending in with the group when it hinders our authenticity.
I'm not promoting the use of four-letter words! I make every attempt not to swear in front of elderly strangers or small children -- always did -- and thanks to all the yoga and meditation I practice, I find a lot less reason to curse than I used to. But, ladylike or not, I do still enjoy a good F-bomb when it seems suitable to the occasion.
One of the advantages of a regular yoga practice is the by-product of getting to know oneself with clarity. It begins in small ways, such as learning to find where we are in any given pose in the moment rather than assuming what we can or can't do. A group yoga class is also a wonderful way to gauge just how much we tend to compare ourselves to others -- and that pulled hamstring the next day is a lovely reminder of how foolish we were to do it. Before you know it, your yoga practice follows you off the mat. You begin asking yourself if you really want to go see that blockbuster action flick, or take that job only for the better pay, or commit to a path of least resistance.
The pursuit of authenticity can be a lonely and frightening choice. But the alternative is quite grim. Trying to fit into someone else's notion of who you really are is a great way to live a small, passionless existence.
It's your life. Live it for you.
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Regular Kundalini, Hatha and Restorative classes at my home studio in North Hollywood are now $25 each and can be scheduled upon request. Private sessions are $75 and consist of a 30- to 60-minute consultation, a custom recipe for a personal practice based on your individual needs, and 30 minutes of follow-up instruction by phone or in person.
Why? WHY? WHY?????
Upset by the changes to the home schedule?
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The techniques and suggestions presented in Yoga Bits are not intended as medical claims or to substitute for proper medical advice. Consult your physician before beginning any new exercise program. If you are elderly or have any chronic or recurring conditions such as high blood pressure, neck or back pain, arthritis, heart disease, and so on, seek your physician's advice before practicing.
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