Yoga has gotten less spectacular for me over the last 16 years I’ve been regularly practicing.
Sometimes it was nailing a new pose I’d previously believed to be beyond my capabilities, while other times I’d make new mental connections or have super cool ideas.
Every now and then these gems would arrive in the form of emotional healing, like a balm smoothing over the tired and scared and hyper-vigilant layers of trauma I’d accumulated. And then there were moments of spiritual wonder that opened my eyes and my mind and my heart. I was reclaiming my life as my own, and the newness and awe associated with this process — especially at first — was intoxicating.
Sometimes it was nailing a new pose I’d previously believed to be beyond my capabilities, while other times I’d make new mental connections or have super cool ideas.
Every now and then these gems would arrive in the form of emotional healing, like a balm smoothing over the tired and scared and hyper-vigilant layers of trauma I’d accumulated. And then there were moments of spiritual wonder that opened my eyes and my mind and my heart. I was reclaiming my life as my own, and the newness and awe associated with this process — especially at first — was intoxicating.
However the newness of these aha! moments gradually became less novel over time.
He basically taught to love them and welcome them but to not expect them — and I can say I now agree with this, because inevitably with consistency the things that used to feel exciting begin to feel common. And if we’re addicted to the excitement we’ll give up the practice when this happens. Of course there are still asanas I’m working on and I often make unusual and creative connections while lying in savasana — but the beauty of my practice now lies in the small moments of my day to day life.
The way the mind will lean under stress is strongly influenced by training.
-Frank Herbert
So yes, the actual asana yoga had gotten less spectacular the more I’ve done it, but it’s the consistency of my practice that has gradually made my life more and more remarkable. And that’s the real yoga! If your yoga practice doesn’t enhance the quality of your life – if it doesn’t empower you and make you feel free and help you feel better able to enjoy this day to day nonsense of the human experience – it’s just another form of entertainment.
So I urge you to not get attached or addicted to these sensational feelings, but rather give these golden threads permission to weave themselves throughout your life outside of your yoga practice. And be consistent with that practice, even when nothing feels sensational at all. I promise you, this is where the real magic lies.
Brittany