Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jamie Shane

Author:Jamie Shane [Shane, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jamie Shane: Rebel Ink
Published: 2015-07-27T21:00:00+00:00

Section Two

Blessed are the Flexible

55

It would be easy for me to sit here and wax poetic about the nature of yoga. To talk about its many facets, its many unique and wonderful properties, the ways in which it enhances life.

And, I'm certain, at some point during our conversations, I will. But today, as I ponder how best to begin this discussion, only one thought rises to the surface.

Yoga, well: It is what it is.

You can turn the temperature up to a hundred degrees. You can do it fast or do it slow. You can spend an hour practicing the perfect alignment of one posture, or become entranced with flowing movement. You can wrap a hundred names around it and burden it with a thousand trademarks. But, boil all of that down and you still have what you started with.

Yoga—a physical science designed to bring the body and the mind into alignment with spirit.

Whoa, now, don't turn away because I brought out the S word. Spirit is a fact of our lives. It exists within us all, outside of us all, and whether you acknowledge it or deny it, it lives. Some people seek it out. Some people treat it like flaky Aunt Lucy with her hippie-skirts and daisies. But the great thing about spirit is that it doesn't matter which of these people you are because spirit is everyone. Period.

And that makes yoga for everyone.

I can't tell you how often I hear, "I want to do yoga because my doctor says it will be good for me, but I don't like all that weird (chanting, music, crazy) stuff." To which I usually reply, "Then don't go to a class that does that stuff." Not every instructor openly teaches the spiritual aspects of yoga. I am one of them, and this is why.

Spirit exists. Its like the big, blue sky. No matter where you go, or how intently you ignore it, there it is. You can enjoy your day and never once think about the vastness of the sky. But that doesn't mean that it isn't all around you. Spirituality in yoga is much the same.

You can have a greatly successful physical practice. You can very easily ignore the "spiritual aspect" of yoga and still reap the benefits. Greater fitness, flexibility, strength and peace of mind are yours for the taking whether you follow the ideology or not. Chanting has wonderful benefits and I wholly recommend it. The philosophies and teachings of yoga have made my life richer than I can say. My connection to spirit is broadband all the way.

But, if you don't want to pursue that avenue, then don't. For goodness sakes, I'd rather see a student focused on the physical than no student at all. Go to a class that makes you comfortable. Try something within your box if that's what it takes to get you to try it. Don't give another thought to "OM, hare, OM."

Pay no attention to that big, blue sky.

Because the first true breath that you draw is spirit.

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