From my point of view, I think most yoga teachers were upset by the article because so many of us have experienced great health and healing through yoga. Like me, so many of us teach yoga because we want to share the gifts of the practice that have been so incredibly helpful in transforming our lives. We'd all really hate for people to be scared away from something that carries such great potency for healthy and happiness. I wanted to share my story today to demonstrate the healing potential that lies in Yoga.
My "body wrecking" began at an early age. My dad fought his way from Ireland, half-way around the world, to the United States as a professional boxer. As athletic as my dad was, my mom was more artistic. For anyone who sees me in an athletic light, I would say it was only by drive and dedication that I found myself here. My nature is more of the artist. I was a clumsy kid who tried really hard to be an athlete like my dad whom I admired so much. I was ALWAYS hurt. Gymnastics gave me a place to be both artistic and athletic but it also left me with more strains, sprains, and a degenerated lumbar spine (from trying to touch my butt to my head like Kristi Phillips.) When my body couldn't take the demands of gymnastics anymore - at the ripe old age of 15;-) I switched to springboard diving. Landing on the water was a little easier on my body but not easy enough. At the age of 21, as a college diver, I had a silly but severe mis-step off the diving board. I lost my space in the air and landed face first, flat on the water, off of the 3 meter board. I thought I could shake it off, dove again, and landed on the side of my head. I walked out of practice that day in severe pain that I couldn't shake for months. A chiropractor treated me for whiplash and the trainers treated me for strains and sprains throughout my neck, back, and shoulders. I pushed through the season even though I could barely sleep at night. I couldn't look up at the stars at night and it hurt to just tie my shoes. At 21 I felt like 81.
Even though I pushed through to live a "normal" active life, I was in chronic pain. Finally armed with health insurance, I began the process to feel better. I was diagnosed with a laundry list of ailments: degenerated lumbar spine, two herniated disks, a touch of scoliosis, and fibro-mialgyia. There you go and thank you very much. Medication did not ease my pain. The orthopedic guy told me that surgery would be the only solution but because I was young he wanted me to wait as long as possible. He told me that I was already doing everything that they would have me do in physical therapy. So basically, push through young soldier.
Chronic pain is exhausting and depressing. I did not want to live this way. I started reading some of the "new-agey" or rather progressive books about healing from chronic back pain. When my uncle told me about the Alexander Technique that he was using to help cope with his "wrecked" back, I went looking for relief. The Alexander Technique was unlike anything I had ever done before. My teacher spoke with a calm, steady, and quiet but powerful voice. She also helped me to be and move my body in this same way. For the first time in my life, I felt what it was to relax. I experienced the healing that lies in deep relaxation. My teacher, also began to introduce the concept of energy-work to me. I was surprised how clearly I could start to feel the energy flow in and around me. If the word "energy" puts you off, maybe you can just think of it as the electrical system of your body... you know.... your nervous system. "Energy" is real folks! Mindful practices like the Alexander Technique and Yoga help you tap into it and then change it. You can change tension to relaxation and chaos to harmony. Ok that's not really what this post is about but there you have it.
I went through some ups and downs with the Alexander Technique. Some days I actually felt worse but I think it's because I was starting to feel again. When you have chronic pain sometimes it just feels better to shut down. I could feel myself coming alive again in many ways. Even though I hurt sometimes, I knew without a doubt I was healing.
Around the same time, I began to take Yoga. I didn't really like it in the beginning. It was hard for me to focus. Sometimes I thought it was boring or weird. At the same time, I knew it was important for me to continue. Luckily I soon met some really great teachers who showed me the inspiring and fun side of yoga. I was being read poetry. I was practicing hand stands and backbends again. I was learning more about anatomy and energy and how they work together. I was hooked! And, I was feeling better and better.
Then I met Sianna Sherman. She subbed a class I was taking and told me about these "loops and spirals" in this new yoga style called Anusara® Yoga. Her teacher John Friend had created this formula to use in all the yoga poses that was easy to remember and would help you "line-up" in a way that would give you a "soft, bright heart, a healthy body, and a clear mind." Sign me up!
So while my Alexander Technique teacher opened the door to healing, Anusara Yoga drove it home and gave me tools to help me encourage healing within myself and in my life. I could now move my muscles to adjust my own bones so that I was aligned in a way that would bring optimum health and harmony. I learned how to cultivate all the qualities I wanted to experience in my life like peace and joy. I was inspired to shift my focus from the negative to the positive and because of that and many more benefits of Yoga, I am an all-around better, healthier, and happier person.
There are so many styles of yoga and so many teachers out there these days. I do think it's important to look for a style that you like and that feels beneficial to your particular state of being. It's also worth checking out a variety of teachers. Different teachers know different things and teach in different ways. The most important thing is to be sensitive and respectful to your own experience. In all the back talk after the NY Times article there was one quote that stood out to me. "If it hurts you, it's not yoga." We each need to take responsibility for ourselves and have the courage to do what's right for us. Sometimes that means holding back and sometimes that means surging forward. Although we can all learn from each other, our individual truth lies within. This, not whether you can put your foot behind your head, is the real call of yoga.The purpose of Yoga is to know and honor your true-self, as John Friend puts it to "Align with the Divine," and to unleash pure joy, health, and well-being.
Yoga is good for you! Check it out.
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