Beyond the Likes: Embracing Yoga as a Personal Journey
Yoga isn’t about flawless postures or social media likes. It’s a journey inward – a union of breath, body, and mind, where you are your only audience and your greatest cheerleader
Gunjan Singh
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Consider this: While scrolling through your Insta/Facebook feed you have been wowed by the very many yogis who mindbogglingly bend their bodies into perfect postures. Paradoxically you are both; attracted by their agility and their huge following but discouraged as you can’t see yourself there!
Questioning your flexibility and mobility?
Did you just do a quick body scan and decide … not happening! For 10 minutes ago, you needed a chair to get into your underpants and usually feel stiff all over, all day every day. Can’t imagine doing yoga in your own room forget about posting on your socials.
It’s time to reflect further.
Is the fear of an audience and judgement dissuading you, taking you away from a new healthier lifestyle? Then a deeper understanding of what yoga really is, is required.
Yoga means union of the mind and body, of the soul with the universal divine. This is achieved by training your body to calm your mind. The postures or asanas then are just a route to clarity and an inward connection. Completely thus obliterating the need for an audience. Your practice is a safe space without judgement, you being the only observer. That is true yoga and it doesn’t call for likes or a gramfam.
In fact as the term ‘Instagram yoga’ suggests, it’s a whole new breed of yoga, one which defies core yoga philosophy. It panders to glorifying form, and the need for appreciation, moving focus outwards rather than inwards, towards the senses rather than away from them. Agitating the monkey mind in the quest for hearts and likes, instead of leading it to stillness. Not what Patanjali set out do when he inscribed the sutras. He’d be turning in his grave if he was buried.
Perfect posture then … not the only aim.
A practice with awareness of the breath and body is superior to a practice that only perfects posture. You have permission then to find meaning in your asanas even if you can’t go all the way. The benefits definitely outweigh the optics. Set a sankalp, an intention. Let that be your guide as you move through the asanas.
Iyengar yoga focusses deeply on alignment but recognises limitations and thus advocates the use of props. The lesson here folks is not to let your limitations define you or limit you. Keep your focus on what really matters and sustainably move towards an advanced practice. With time even perfecting that posture, albeit to find bliss not to broadcast.
In conclusion, yoga is a game best played with one’s inner self, wherein you are the player, the audience and your own cheerleader.
Fit in vs stay fit
Some alternates (asanas) to popular advanced yoga poses … with similar benefits.
Insta pose: Crow tones abdominal wall, aids in digestion, balance strengthens inner thigh, opens groin area
Alternate: Garland pose stretches ankle, groin, stimulates digestion
Insta pose: Fallen angel strengthens back and core muscles, improves flexibility
Alternate: Boat pose strengthens core and hip flexors, strengthens spine, corrects posture
Insta pose: Head stand calms mind, activates pineal gland, strengthens upper body and core
Alternate: Down dog helps focus, relieves stress, stretches hamstrings and glutes and builds strength
Insta pose: Wheel benefits nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory and cardiovascular system, spine flexibility
Alternate: Supported back bend helps spinal health, benefits nervous system, hear opener and activates lymphatic system