Yoga means, “yoke” as in “join,” or “tie
together” and refers to the way the practice brings one into connection with
God. It is about connecting the body and the spiritual and is in fact
considered a devotional practice in its origins. Physically, on the other hand,
yoga is all about flexibility in the spine. Having that flexibility is
considered the essence of health and well-being. At one time, I had a very
flexible spine indeed. I hope to return to the yoga practice I once had, but my
young children seem to make other plans for me at the moment. Still,
flexibility is something I value. Right now, my practice is more about
flexibility of the mind, however. As humans we seem to want to define and
categorize, assign meaning and decide things. However, rigid thinking may not
serve us any better than stiff muscles and calcified joints. How does one
cultivate elasticity in thought?
I am thinking lately about how easy it is to
stay stiff and calcified in old perceptions of self, form entrenched world
views, become bound in thought patterns that restrict. As in the practice of
yoga, stretching those mental models proves challenging and useful. One can
almost feel the tiny tears one makes as neural paths are redesigned. But this
is how strength is achieved, as with muscles that must tear a little to grow
stronger. It is commonly thought that yoga is a pastime about stretching and
relaxation. However I found it to be primarily about strength. It takes great
strength to support that level of flexibility. And it takes great mental
strength to get our thinking to bend deeply. How do we know when we are being
stiff and stuck? I think because it hurts. Some mental pain may be a good clue
we are in need of a stretch. In yoga, the first pathway to flexibility is
breath. So I am encouraging myself to take deep mental breathes, to slow down,
and get stronger even as I begin to move more freely and loosely. If we bend
our perceptions, stretch our imaginations, and strengthen our resolve, perhaps
there is hope of achieving a mental place of well-being that is deeply
connected, strong and free.
