You're Fine

We had a wonderful workshop this past weekend on using yoga therapy to relieve neck pain. Lots of happy necks in the room! But it got me considering how it’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking things will be better when [fill in the blank]. You know what I mean, don’t you?

Things will be better when
-my neck stops hurting
-I finish my degree
-my kids are grown
-spring arrives
-I get the promotion
-[insert your dream here]

I got to thinking how Yoga has a completely different way of responding to Life. Yoga asks

What if everything is fine as it is right now?

As we were moving our necks mindfully and observing how far is too far to cause discomfort, as we moved in our pain-free range of motion, I pointed out how this is what it truly means to be a practitioner of Yoga:

I am present. I am aware. I accept things as they are without needing to change them.

Surprise! When we are able to rest in this awareness, Life begins to shift on its own without any interference from us. Even our neck starts to feel better. I know this to be true because I have seen it over and over again in my life and in the lives of my students.

This is the essence of being a yoga practitioner: As we stay with ourselves and look clearly at the circumstances in which we find ourselves without running away, ignoring or otherwise needing to fix ourselves, we begin to see more clearly into the deepest meaning of being a human on this incredible journey.

So what if everything IS fine as it is right now? How might you respond to Life?