(originally posted 5/25/2015)
When you go to Yoga class, do you always set up in the same spot? Do you get annoyed if you arrive late to class, and someone else has already taken “your” spot? If so, you are not alone. I find that many students gravitate toward a particular area of the room over and over again.
When I first designed the studio, I worked with a Feng Shui consultant, Natalia Kaylin. Natalia mapped out the room and showed me which areas corresponded to various aspects of life: wealth, spirituality, relationships, career, etc. We are all sensitive to these energetic vibrations, and it is likely that the spot you consistently choose is one which you were drawn to because it served you in some way when you first came to class. However, that spot may have been chosen several years ago, and perhaps your needs have changed. It is possible that you are now simply in a comfortable rut, and the idea of stepping out of that comfort zone is… well, uncomfortable.
In yoga classes, it may seem like we are working on creating more flexibility in your body. However, there is a direct connection between flexibility of the body and flexibility of the mind. As Swami Nirmalananda once said: “Nothing tightens you up faster than your mind.”
You can see this for yourself right now by doing a short little exercise. Do a lunge on one side. Feel how your body responds. Really allow yourself to sink deeply into the pose. Now do the other side, and after about 10 seconds, start worrying about something. Whatever the first worry is that comes to mind – settle on that one! Really worry! And see how your body responds. Are you even able to sink into the pose at all? Stop reading and try this exercise now!
This is why we start every class with a guided relaxation in Shavasana and Ujjayi breathing. This way, when you start getting into the active poses, your mind has settled a bit, and the poses can do their magic. The mind/body connection in Yoga is huge and it is one of the things that distinguishes yoga from other forms of exercise.
During the next few weeks, I am issuing a challenge to all of our yoga students. The next few times you come to class, try a different spot in the room. And notice your reaction to that. Be aware of your feelings about it, both positive and negative, without being sucked into the feelings. Step back, and simply observe with interest. As you r body opens up more and more in classes, your mind will also begin to soften, and these new openings will begin to become more apparent in all areas of your life.
I look forward to seeing you in your new favorite spot in the room!
