Yoga beyond the asana...

What is the first image that pops into your mind when you hear the word yoga?

I’m guessing it’s got something to do with the physical practice, or asana as it’s called in Sanskrit. You might imagine a long and lean woman, in the latest Lululemon gear in a downward facing dog. Or perhaps a well-defined physique of a man standing on his hands. The shapes and the physical practice are a miniscule part of the practice that we often get lost in. We are therefore missing the real essence of this holistic practice that has so much more power off the mat. This is something that really landed with me following a recent accident. I felt like I had broken into pieces, much like the puzzle in the image above. In my moment of suffering I was reminded that the real Yoga is practiced off the mat and integrated in the world

Yoga is a practice of integrating mind, body, intellect and spirit. It is a path of spiritual and personal growth. It is a process whereby we learn to connect to our deepest, most authentic selves and all the selves that walk this earth with us.

The Sutras provide an eight-limbed path to yoga, and asana is only one of the eight limbs. Thus, if we consider the state of modern yoga, most practitioners are only engaging with one-eighth of the practice. For the ancient yogis, meditation and breath was yoga, plain and simple. The asana practice was simply a means to this important end: Make the body flexible and supple enough so that it could sit comfortably for prolonged periods of meditation. While asanas are a key component, yoga is a holistic discipline encompassing a wide range of practices and principles, breath control, self awareness, meditation etc.

I was recently involved in a bad bicycle accident, I was flung off my bike in order to miss a car and ended up tangled in my bike in a very deep ditch, waiting for an ambulance to rescue me. My initial reaction was not to react with negativity and panic, but instead drawing on this deep strength to repeat the words, over and over and over " I'M OK" Yoga doesn't necessarily teach us to completely stop reacting, but it does empower us to respond with greater awareness instead of reacting impulsively. As I calmed myself with this affirmation, I felt numb, and strangely at peace, until I looked at my wrist. It was mangled and deformed, and seeing that with my own eyes shifted my awareness. I suddenly went from numb and calm to intense pain, and shock started to creep in. I was shivering, and struggling to breath. I knew the only way to control the situation was to control my breath, and so my deep practice begun. I was reminded of the formidable force of the breath to regulate my emotions, and I was so deeply grateful that I was able to lean into this powerful tool, that held me in that scary moment.

I put every ounce of my focus and attention on my breath. In that moment I became my breath, long, deep, slow, controlled and focused one breath at a time, while hearing my inner voice repeatedly say "I'M OK" while tears rolled down my face. In difficult situations, we can learn to step outside of our emotionally reactive selves, just as we do on the mat when we are asked to practice something that we think is physically impossible, or when a posture is held to the point of discomfort. Instead of saying no, or becoming angry we learn to cultivate a peaceful response. While I focused on my breath, I started to settle, I felt peaceful again, rather than focusing on the physical pain and discomfort I became anchored in the breath and the world felt good again.

I have a long journey ahead of me, and have a way to go with the rehabilitation of my wrist, but for now I lean into the yoga that holds me in the world, that lifts me up and reminds me that I have the inner strength, love, compassion, awareness and focus to get through this. My practice looks and feels very different, there is an essence of peace to it. It's slow, and gentle and has many magical moments in meditation drawing on gratitude that I was so lucky, knowing that I could have broken way more than the 4 bones I broke.

There are difficult days for sure, days where the pain and discomfort creep in. The frustration of only having the use of a left hand becomes unbearable, and the little things like writing, tying my hair up or a proper hug are deeply missed, but this new yogic perspective is a reminder that we all have a choice in how we want to respond to every situation we are given. My meditation practice helps me cultivate a longer fuse, providing insight and perspective. In those moments that I feel that I'm being tested, I choose to rise to the occasion by being my best self, which changes my actions and ultimately my direction. This integrates and ultimately bridges the gap between life on the mat with life off the mat. My experience is a reminder that we hold the power of Yoga in our hearts, that we have the tools to deal with unsteady situations, and that the gift of Yoga can lift us up in our darkest moments, we don't need a mat to prove it!

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