.....stretching

Yogis,
Often when I tell someone I am a yoga teacher they rush to tell me that they stretch. For those who have never done yoga, from the outside yoga looks like a whole lot of stretching.

Which in some ways it is. The asanas, or poses, place the body in a variety of different positions which cause the body to stretch in at least one area, but often in many. It may be the arms lifted over the head, hips swiveling, and back leg lengthened, like in a warrior pose. Or lying on the back with feet planted, hips lifted and shoulders rolled under the body in a bridge. So yes, yoga does stretch the body and over time creates greater flexibility.

But that is where the similarities end…….

Last week again someone shared that they stretch, and I nodded. Yoga is an experiential practice that can only be understood by doing, so the difference is not something I typically attempt to explain. But it did get me thinking.

Here is an example. When we stretch, we move our body in a certain direction and hold for a short time. Sometimes bouncing ensues. Our mind is often elsewhere, and the eyes move about. Yoga also moves the body into a certain position which is the physical piece of the practice. Then, however, all of the attention moves inward.

The eyes soften and fix to one unmoving point, called a drishti. Now it is time to become still and turn the awareness to the breath. Thoughts float by as we stay tuned in to the present moment. There is the effort of holding the body active, yet at the same time allowing an inner relaxation. The ease. And we stay.

The pose begins when we want to leave it.  B.K.S Iyengar

Where stretching has wonderful physical benefits and is critical as we age, yoga takes all of that and moves beyond the physical. In fact, in the yoga scriptures, yoga is described as a mind practice. And as the mind changes, we change.

A few days later I came across an article in the paper on this very topic. Thank you, Universe! It was a study done in Canada on the effects of adding stretching or yoga to an exercise plan for cardiovascular health, and in particular for those with high blood pressure. While both practices showed reduction in blood pressure readings, the yoga approach resulted in a 2 ½ time greater reduction over the stretching!

The results were clear although they were not able to determine the exact mechanism that caused the difference. For those of us who have a yoga practice, we know the difference. It is subtle and we can feel it. When the mind is calm and the breath slows, the body follows.

I went to the doctor this week for my annual exam. As the tech unwrapped the blood pressure cuff from my arm she announced, ‘112 over 76. Excellent!’

Thank you yoga,
SARAH