If you are experiencing pain when you practice yoga, it may be that you really don’t understand what yoga is. Let’s begin with
When Are You Not Practicing Yoga?
If you are straining, pushing, forcing or competing in your yoga practice, you are not practicing yoga.
If you end your yoga session with pulled muscles, torn tendons and ligaments, painful joints, or a sore body, you are not practicing yoga.
At the end of your yoga session, if you collapse in a pool of sweat, exhausted, you are not practicing yoga.
Why Not?
Because Yoga is about peace, calmness, and harmony.
The moment that you disturb your peace, you are no longer practicing yoga.
Yoga is about stillness. In fact the goal of all of Yoga is to culminate in stillness, as stated in Psalm 46:10.
Be still, and know that I am God
To achieve this, the ancient Rishis (God-Realized Beings) developed Yoga. In this age the most popular Yoga is Hatha Yoga, which is what they called the practice of the Asanas.
Asanas are not exercises in the modern, or Western, sense, but are postures, poses, positions.
By definition an asana should be steady, comfortable, and pleasant in a way that you can hold it for a long time.
The best way to understand Asana is to look at the Self-Realization Fellowship website, Correct Posture: Instructions on Posture for Effective Meditation, where it states,
“If the correct posture has been assumed, the body will be stable yet relaxed, so that it is easily possible to remain completely still, without moving a muscle.”
Why Look to Meditation Posture as the Key to Hatha Yoga Practice?
1-We look at meditation practice because it is the ultimate goal of all yoga practice. Raja Yoga, Meditation, is called the last Yoga, or the highest Yoga, and teaches us that our Hatha Yoga practice should contribute to, not distract from, Meditation.
2-We look to meditation practice because it will give us the wisdom to not hurt ourselves while practicing Hatha Yoga.
Here is some wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda:
“No one should try to meditate in the lotus posture unless he is at ease in that position. To meditate in a strained posture keeps the mind on the discomfort of the body.”
This is also true in your Hatha Yoga practice. If you are in a strained posture, your mind will be on that strained place, and not come within, where it should be.
Yogananada further states, “The proper bodily posture, one which produces calmness in body and mind, is necessary to help the yogi shift his mind from matter to spirit.”
Where There Is Strain, There Is No Yoga.
Where Strain Begins, Yoga Ends.
Once when I was at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Retreat in Pacific Palisades, California, I had the opportunity to talk with Brother Achalananda. “Brother, I teach asanas (Hatha Yoga Postures) at the SRF Boys Youth Program Camp, and I wonder if you could give me some advice on how to do a better job?”
“Just remember, he said, “ Where there is strain, there is no Yoga. Where strain begins, Yoga ends.”
Wow. Just what I needed to know. So simply stated and yet so important.
This can be your key also. Remind yourself of this often and you won’t hurt yourself when practicing yoga.
Namasté,…..Norm
Related Post: 12 Things You Need to Know Before You Practice Yoga
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