confessions from a yoga snob
Remember the days when yoga was not the popular craze it is today? Do you remember back when studios were in basements and there were more students than teachers? Well before we became so educated in distinguishing between good yoga and bad – the right way and the wrong – mine and yours.
“Bikram is too hot and not spiritual enough.”
“Power yoga moves too fast.”
“Vinyasa flow is confusing and only for bendy people.”
“Iyengar is boring and Ashtanga’s too structured.”
Geesh – when did we all become such yoga snobs? ~ Moi included!
It seems we all can agree that Yoga Does the Body Good. And that in doing the body good – it also does the mind good, the spirit good, and the emotions good.
But just as religions have done for centuries – it’s in the “how” we get lost.
Bikram is about physical fitness, including endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular strength, and weight loss. No pain – no gain. Have a mini-heart attack now, save yourself the big one later. Yes, it’s hot. It’s really, really hot. So if you don’t like the heat . . . well, you know what they say.
Power yoga is about power. (Duh). With its quicker pace, it dynamic approach, and physically demanding style – this style encourages you to find your edge, exceed your potential, doubt your doubts. A quicker pace won’t kill you – but it may challenge you!
Vinyasa flow taps into creativity and poses run together like a dance. Abundant freedom, lots of flexibility, and an emphasis on individual expression are offered to all.
Iyengar offers ways to make yoga accessible for all abilities. Yin yoga offers a deep, yielding, and quiet practice. And Ashtanga provides a classical structure, perfectly designed for daily practice.
Each style offers its own unique spin. Each a separate path – leading the same direction. And when we judge, either in word or action – we leave ourselves closed off to the unique quality each given style has to offer. There is no “bad” yoga, and if you aren’t learning – then you aren’t listening.
Certainly one style may feel more your own. And perhaps this will shift with time and with seasons. Perhaps it won’t. But next time you find yourself agressively contorting your body in a yin class, resenting the heat in Bikram, or tempted to add your individual flair to ashtanga – remember the old and wise adage: When in Rome – just practice like the Romans!
Filed under: monthly musings, power yoga, yoga, yoga falls church | 2 Comments
RIGHT ON peg!
Peg … I think that you nailed this one!!! I don’t think that that any one has ever spelled this out so clearly. Thank you — this is GREAT!!!