Tag Archives: Meditation

Are You Doing Yoga?

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You can practice yoga without ever doing one yoga pose.
You can do many yoga poses without ever practicing yoga.

There are different yoga paths. However, no matter the path choice, at its root, the practice of yoga is intended to liberate you from conditioned misconceptions about yourself and lead you to the realization that you are more than the thoughts you identify yourself with.

Yoga does not ask you to be someone else, nor is it intended to shame or judge. It’s not even about ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ The practice encourages dedication to self-study, a pathway to self-knowledge. 

Every time you step on your mat, you have a choice: work out or work in.

You can choose to use the pose purely for physical purposes, where it’s about fitness goals or the level of the pose, or you can choose to use the pose as a tool for transformation—physical and mental. 

And the difference comes down to simply changing your mindset.

You are shifting from a goal-oriented, end-result focus, where your mind narrative is really about what you can and cannot do in your pose and where you are in your physical practice, to a process focus: how you get there, taking your time, embracing each step, noticing the nuances and more subtle sensations, not needing to get anywhere else, and being fully present. This option is where the actual practice of yoga comes in: quieting the narrative in your mind, getting away from your inner ego chatter so you can hear your inner teacher’s voice. 

So, a simple idea is not necessarily easy to achieve. Here are a few things to ask yourself to discern whether your practice is encouraging you to ‘work in.’

Ask yourself:
Does my practice build the physical component of yoga from the foundations of breath and gaze?

These two techniques are essential in creating a practice that encourages presence and a process-focused experience.

Ask yourself:
Does my practice include a philosophical component that encourages self-study?

The mind transformation from yoga results in the ability to discern which habits or patterns to let go of. And develop new ones that inspire you to lead a more intentional and thoughtful life. Applying the Yamas and Niyamas, which are yoga’s ethical principles, will help.

Ask yourself:
Do I find myself moving through my day with less reaction and impulsiveness? Do I own my actions and live with more intention and thoughtfulness?

Yoga is a gradual process, not a quick fix. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras states that the practice must be cultivated for a long time, without interruption, and with care. When your mat practice includes the two points prior, you will begin to notice the transformation off your mat.

So in short, ask yourself what would happen if you spent less time trying to master a pose and more time trying to master your thoughts?

Everyone has a personal reason to begin a yoga practice—physical, mental, or spiritual benefits. However, it is essential to honor the traditions and philosophy of this ancient practice by never losing sight of its original intentions. It is possible to gain the physical benefits of practicing asana while staying connected to yoga’s original intention. 

If you can get a stronger, more flexible body along with a stronger, more flexible mind, why not?

Green Flag Yoga Teachers

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Not all yoga classes are created equal. Because yoga is meant to be a transformative process, teaching yoga requires a different skill set than teaching only a fitness class.

Of course, teaching a great yoga class requires specific technical knowledge, but a well-trained teacher will go above and beyond in an effort to create a space that is welcoming, safe, and inclusive.

Here are a few things to consider when searching for a yoga teacher:

A green flag yoga teacher will teach more than a Western fitness class.
They have an innate ability to tie together the philosophical component of yoga with the physical practice. They offer mental practices relevant to daily life, giving the tools to apply them off the mat. 

When the class description says it is appropriate for all levels, a green flag yoga teacher teaches an all-level class.
The teacher will not expect students to know poses and their names. 
They will use precise cues and language to help students transition into the pose and build the alignment of the pose safely from the ground up while offering different options. 

A green flag yoga teacher avoids language that creates a hierarchy of poses, like ‘advanced vs. beginner.’ They will use terms like ‘option’ or ‘variation’ instead of ‘modify’ or ‘modification.’ This makes it about choice rather than physical ability. 
A green flag teacher will normalize using different options and remind students of their personal agency. 

A green flag yoga teacher offers an experience, a process-focused practice, rather than a goal-oriented one based on aesthetics or reaching a particular ‘level’ of a pose.
They will encourage exploration in a pose – replacing how it looks with how it feels. 

A green flag teacher avoids blanket statements that label how a pose or practice should feel and encourages investigation without a right or wrong answer.
They understand that everyone comes from a different background and life experience, and therefore, everyone will not feel the same or have the same response to a pose or class. 

A green flag yoga teacher is constantly evolving. 
They understand that study and learning never end. They give space for their teaching to grow, change, and evolve. They are not afraid to tell a student: I don’t know. 
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Lyn holds both in-person and online yoga teacher training. If you are interested in becoming a ‘green flag’ yoga teacher, you can check out her programs here:
200-Hour In-Person Yoga Teacher Training
Online Program Platform

How The Grinch Found Yoga

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“An open heart is an open mind” – Dalai Lama

Featured on elephantjournal.com.
Inspired by Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Watch the video:

Every yogi in Yogaville liked yoga a lot….
But the Grinch, who lived just west of Yogaville, did not!
The Grinch hated yoga! The whole yoga culture!
Now, please don’t ask why. It would only be torture.
It could be his mind was closed a little too tight.
It could be, perhaps, that his breath was too slight.
But I think the most likely reason could be,
He kept his heart protected, not allowing it to be free.

Whatever the reason, his heart or his mind.
He stood there that evening, not feeling very kind.

Staring into the studio, with the look of displease,
At the warm yoga bodies moving with such ease.
For he knew every yogi was perfecting their pose,
While looking their best in their fancy yoga clothes.
“And they’re standing on their hands,” he said with despair,
“Without a single strand moving, not one! In their hair!”

Their photos, their quotes, their Instagram postings!
The kale and kombucha, the juice cleanse hostings!
And soon, oh so soon, they would be yoga singing!
The sound of their OMs! Well, it would have his ears ringing!

Then he got an idea! A crazy idea!
This “unyogic” Grinch got a crazy idea!
The Grinch held his breath, not knowing what was in store.
He walked up to the studio, and opened the door…

The Grinch came from the outside and found his way in.
Which is often how many of us also begin.
He stepped onto a mat, without expectation.
The evolution was slow, but he found meditation.

And there on the mat, released of all drama.
The Grinch discovered more than only one of the yamas.
It just takes some presence, a trust in the self.
In mindful action, the Grinch found some wealth.

And the Grinch, with his grinch hands touching his toes,
looked around in amazement, thinking, “How could it be so?”

“It came without judgment! It came without goals!”
“It came without challenges, selfies or ‘no’s’!”
And he sat down a few moments, till his breath became longer.
His mind became quiet, his inner voice grew stronger.
“Maybe yoga,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a pose.”
“Maybe yoga… perhaps…is an exercise for the soul.”

And what happened then? Well…in Yogaville they say,
That the Grinch’s trapped heart broke open that day!
And the minute his heart didn’t feel quite such a mess,
His mind opened up too and he found yoga bliss.
And he stepped on his mat. Both feet firmly at home!
And he, he himself! The Grinch sang the last OM!

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Read Part Two: How The Grinch Found Yoga, Again! (Oh yes, the Grinch heads to yoga teacher training school!)

200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Lyn
300-Hour Advanced Training with Lyn – Self-Study, Self-Paced Remote Learning

Love Dr. Seuss? Love yoga? Buy Lyn’s book, Om, the Poses You’ll Do! (the yoga version of ‘Oh, the Places You’ll go?’)
Available on Amazon.com

Yoga Teachers and Studio Owners: Let’s be sure to practice asteya, when sharing How The Grinch Found Yoga please give credit to the author.
Photo Credit for How The Grinch Found Yoga: Sarah_Ackerman/Flickr

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