Practicing Non-Attachment

If you are a true sports fan, you can sympathize with Calgary Flames fans whose team was eliminated from the NHL post-season two nights ago. In the days that followed, local newspapers have are running headlines asking "What went wrong?", sports analysts are discussing who's to blame, and radio shows are taking calls from upset fans anxious to give their points of view.


What if we fans let go of our expectations for the playoffs? What if we could just enjoy the games for what they are instead of allowing the resulting score to upset us? What a perfect opportunity for practicing non-attachment. A win or loss by the home team would provide us with a chance to practivce sutras #1.12-1.16 (from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras), which discuss non-attachment or vairagya as part of the yogic path. How freeing it would be to watch a game or match knowing from the very beginning a loss would not catapult us into a state of mild depression. In fact, even a good result would not affect us. We would enjoy the sport for the skill it takes to play the game and appreciate how difficult it is to compete. There would be no need to point fingers because there isn't anyone to blame. It takes a lot of energy to feel as aweful as Calgary fans did late Tuesday night. Plus, no rehashing of the past and saying "what if" will change the result.

As for me, I will be sitting in Padmasana tonight watching my home team as they enter the second round. Of course, I will do my best not to be attached to the outcome...

Allez-y les boys. GO HABS GO!

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Dispelling the Myth

Yes, yoga is for everyone.

I am often faced with answering the question "Should I practice yoga"? or "Who does yoga benefit"? or, and my personal favorite, "I am not flexible enough, how could I take a yoga class?". The truth of the matter is, if you breathe the air, yoga is accessible to you.

A common misconception of yoga is it is only the physical practice of putting yourself into compromising positions, some which look as though they belong in a performance by Cirque du Soleil. Another mistaken belief is yoga involves a group of people who sit around chanting indiscernable words whilst periodically standing on their heads. While I love a headstand as much as the next yogini, this is by no means the whole picture.

Yoga is a spiritual practice which can address the emotional, mental, and physical imbalances of the practitioner. Feeling stressed? Having difficulty concentrating? Muscle aches? Begin a yoga practice. Taking a class at the local community centre is a good start. Or you can simply take a deep breath, then another, and another... Breath awareness is an integral part of the practice of yoga and doesn't require the student to ever put themselves into a Downward Dog. In fact, those of us facing a chronic illness or persistent pain can access the benefits of yoga through the breath.

One more myth buster: yoga is also not a religion. Regardless of your faith, or lack of one, yoga can compliment your beliefs.

So lets drop the label of whom a yoga practicitioner is or isn't. A yogi can be anybody, even you.

K

P.S. We should all take a lesson from my dog, Baldur. Enjoy the snow, even if its April.

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Welcome

I have created this blog to share my yoga experiences with my students, family, friends and potential yogis. The goal of these posts will be to provide readers with an insight into my practice, including attended workshops, personal discoveries and setbacks, and thoughts for the future. Space will be saved for questions posed by students and the answers I could or could not provide.

Another area of interest popping up now and again will include environmental stewardship and the link between yoga and respecting our environment. "Trade Ego for Eco" (more to come).

Check out my website at http://www.kimmcneilyoga.ca/ for information on my teaching.

Upcoming Post:

My attendance at the upcoming May 2008 workshop hosted by the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada. I will have the privilege of being taught by Geeta Iyengar, Sri BKS Iyengar's daughter, internationally renowed teacher of her father's system. Look forward to daily updates during the workshop.

Thank you for taking the time to explore yoga a little further.

All the best,

Kim

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