The Change

I don't know anyone who would disagree with me that yoga helps create change. You hear that so often in yoga classes, to observe your breath, notice the difference in your body in the beginning of the class to the end of the class... But is this the change we speak of? Are there other ways yoga promotes change?

Change occurs in ways that go sometimes unnoticed. Physical change is usually the first part of the "yoga shift" that we see. We notice our hamstrings are a little more pliable because triangle pose is slightly less excruciating. We see that our upper body is getting stronger because we don't feel like we will break our nose in Chataranga. Physical progress is great, it's immediate proof that we are actually seeing a shift towards a healthier, stronger body.

But what about the other stuff that starts to change from a continual yoga practice, the more subtle stuff. The stuff that flutters through your mind briefly, but still has you take notice.

A fantastic conversation was had by my teacher trainers a few months ago about how you start to take a look at the people in your life and realize you no longer have anything in common. Maybe it's a distant friend, or maybe it's your best friend. These are some changes that are more subtle, but extremely profound.. And leaves you speechless. How do you handle this?

This has happened to me quite a few times, and I always react the same way.. With a feeling of sadness. Sad that one of us has grown and one of us has stayed.. And the hardest thing is trying to figure out which one grew. We all know this answer, but are we willing to admit it and keep on changing, or are you going to stay in status quo because it's "easier." Yoga teaches us to grow, and shift and break old patterns and create new better ones. This cycle never stops, shift happens and it's what you do with it that is the most important.

Kancho Cameron Shayne, the founder of Budokon Yoga said something to me last year that was so profound I shall never forget it..he said to me " stop hiding behind your story, the way you do anything is the way you do everything...". And boy was he right...The way we do even the slightest things reflects how we handle outlives in its entirety. Yoga helps us see this, if we are willing. Are you willing?