Yoga is a Practice, Not a Performance
Yoga is a practice, but looking at Instagram, one would think it is definitely a performance. I’ll admit, I am visually impressed by the physicality and the art that is formed from limbs creating intricate geometric patterns, accentuating the musculature required to even contemplate such endeavors. That said, just as everything is in internetland, what we are seeing is a filtered view from professional contortionists who, even if they have practiced yoga consistently, are undoubtedly hypermobile (which is a discussion for another day). All this to say, that yoga is a practice. It doesn’t take practice-it is a practice.
As mentioned before, yoga is a multi-faceted approach to life. It is as much a philosophy and paradigm of ethics as it is a series of postures. It teaches us compassion, patience, and kindness. It helps us become more introspective and nuanced in our thinking. It encourages us to form a critical eye that seeks truth in all things, and it pushes us to “make the necessary right action” when faced with bitter truths of injustice and harm as that is our dharma. As a matter of fact, this is a whole branch of yoga (one of five, actually) and it is called Karma yoga. This branch is solely focused on “right action”, intention, selfless service, and dharma, the nature of reality. Some yogis never move into downward dog or bend into pigeon pose, and instead study this branch of yoga! What most people practice here and now, is another branch, Hatha, which is infused with physical postures, meditation, pranayama (breathwork), and ethics, called the yamas and niyamas. These are informed by the other branches which deal with universal truth, Karma, devotion, etc. and are often mentioned and subtly worked on in your typical Hatha class, which is why…it is a practice!
In your class, your teacher probably guides you in releasing your attachments that are causing you harm and sadness. You probably work on examining your thought processes and how they manifest, what they illuminate for you, and why they exist. You begin discerning if a pose is uncomfortable because of resistance on your part to change and mold, or if it is causing you pain and you need to move out of the pose. And your teacher probably gives you some homework, if you will. As you become more consistent at your studio home, you may start even noticing that you implement breathing techniques at work when your boss says something not necessarily appreciated. You may begin seeing perspectives different than your own and evaluating it their value so that you can communicate their merits and pitfalls firmly and clearly when it is critical to protecting people from hurt. You may begin finding routines that work for you and sticking to them for less stress in your daily life.
All of these things are small, consistent, and incredibly important. They are the result of stable practice with and without a teacher/guide. They are amplified by your yoga community, your sangha. And they are actions that are born in the heart and mind that can’t be captured on camera as well as a beautiful king dancer pose. Practice on the mat. Practice off the mat. Yoga is a practice, not a performance-you just have to meet and greet every day.