A Near Life Experience
Jan 31, 2016Why do you practice?
It’s been nearly two weeks that I’ve been in India. Two weeks dedicated to practice and study with a teacher, and what a privilege it’s been. I know it can’t last forever, and I’ve been enjoying every minute of it. At home I lead a double life – one foot on the yoga mat and one foot in the regular world. Right now, I’m able to live with both feet on my mat and I feel more focused than I have in ages.
In practice, David calls me out on all my bad habits. He shouts at me to be decisive, to be disciplined, to be patient. It’s like he’s honed in on all of my least favorite traits. Working with a teacher daily in a room full of dedicated practitioners is a powerful thing – it’s hard and it’s humbling and it’s scary. It’s all of the emotions that make us feel so human.
On my mat I’m going to those uncomfortable positions that I hate to love. To those difficult asanas when I actually think I’m in a life or death situation (as ridiculous as that may sound). And I realize, I’m not alive anywhere else like I am here. All of my consciousness gets funneled into one point of concentration – and it’s in this, as my friend Paul explains it, that a near life experience occurs.
And I think that’s really the reason that I practice. Because of how close to life the practice makes me feel. When my vrittis aren’t spinning is when I’m on my absolute edge, and this is where life is. I don’t feel that anywhere else like I do in my practice. Maybe it’s these brushes with death that will teach me how to truly live. After yoga it’s like everything else in my life got the volume turned down and I can deal with anything.
In a few weeks I’ll be back to practicing on my own. Early, in the dark and alone without the guidance of a teacher or the energy of a group. It’s more difficult and less fun, but I’ll still do the practice because I love the whole process. I’ll practice because I benefit from it and everyone I come in contact with benefits from me practicing.
So ask yourself – why do you practice? What makes you show up to your mat? The answer can’t be because you love your teacher or you love your community – it has to be the practice that you love.
Stay connected with news and updates!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
