There is an article I just saw that talks about how people who feel they have no flexibility and are “to tight” are not able to do yoga. I will say upfront, I am going to rant a bit on this subject!
If I could tell you how many people have told me that over the years, well I am not sure what, but lots and lots of people have told me this. There is no prerequisite to stretch that I know of, other than to start slow and be gentle. In fact, if someone is “tight” or “inflexible” it seems to me that it is the very point of doing yoga, stretching whatever you want to call it. Just as important to me, the thing about yoga and taking care of yourself is to be in a non judgmental place. I was teaching a class recently and said as everyone was doing their poses, no one is watching, so be in it for yourself. I think there are a few elements of, “someone is watching me” and then the judgement comes from within and outside of ourselves. I believe that people (including myself) are worried or fearful of what others think. I also wonder if we spend time thinking we don’t stack up? I believe the bottom line is fear, fear of being judged by others and by ourselves, fear of not being good enough, fear of looking silly, fear of it being hard and or uncomfortable, lots and lots of different fears about a whole bunch of stuff that at the end of the day does not help our bodies. For anyone saying right now it does matter, I am going to explain why I think it does not.
First off, our bodies are as individual as our DNA! Period!! So spending anytime comparing, judging, feeling less than, is really not helpful to me because what I need and what you need will always be different. There is also the matter of age, physical ability, injury, emotions, how did you sleep last night, what have you been eating, and on and on. All of those things have a big impact on what we all might be able to do with our bodies on any given day. Second when your in a group class, no one is watching you, no one! (alright maybe that one person in the back of the room) When I’m in a class , I am doing my thing and not even thinking about what someone else is doing. If I have an injury (past or present), that puts a whole other set of limitations on any physical practice. Sometimes I am getting over a cold, or I have not eaten enough, or been hydrated enough, and that is going to affect whatever I do with my body. Our bodies are amazing and complex and vastly different and need different things on different days. I don’t know about you, but one day I am doing something physical and it feels, good, no issues and the very next day, the exact same thing feels hard, exhausting, see my point?
For me, one of the very important things yoga has given me is the ability to tune into my body and start to decipher the different feelings, and needs. I am grateful for this ability to understand and then tune in enough to give my body what it needs on any given day. I have one body, that’s it and I am the only one who is going to really take care of it. Of course, we can all get help and share information, but at the end of the day, its all me. So if someone wants to watch me, or judge me or think they are not flexible enough, so be it, I am sticking with the fact that I will take care of the one and only precious gift I have.
The rant has come to a conclusion and if just one person can think about being in a open, non judgmental place, in regards to how they perceive and use their bodies, I say wohooo!