A lot of people say that Yoga makes them
“feel good”. No matter what stress happens in my day or week, once I get in a
Yoga room, lying on my mat, I already feel better. Once I hit the last Savasana
of the class, an almost blissful feeling comes over me and stress has melted
away. Now, there are many reasons that Yoga makes people feel good, but for me,
I believe I can narrow it down to one: Presence.
One of my favorite quotes reads: “You can
clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to
embrace the present”. Yoga promotes breathing, moving and feeling everything in
the present moment. No room for worrying about the future or ruminating about
the past. It isn’t an easy task all the time, but, learning to remain present
has taught me a lot in the Yoga room. It has taught me to be patient with
myself when my arms shake in my arm balance. Compassion, when I feel
frustrated. It forces me to feel vulnerable when I open my chest in bridge
pose, but allows me to feel safe and supported by my own strength. It has shown
me the benefits of moving outside my comfort zone and has encouraged me to try
(insert ANY challenging pose), sometimes fail, and try again. It reminds me to
let go in forward folds, and of any fears, expectations or outcomes. And then,
in the last Savasana of the class, I am able to “just be” and stay present with
the joy that comes over me.
Sandra McNeill
Sandra is a current member the Yoga Centre
Winnipeg 200hr Teacher Training Program.
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