Monday, April 2, 2012

When is enough, enough?

I recently read an article about a trend in which "hot" classes are getting hotter, based on the demand of the students. One studio's classes, which were at 105, are turning their classes up to 110 so that their students can get what they consider a "harder workout".

Without judging this trend good or bad, it got me thinking about a few things. In my own teaching experience, both with classes I have taught and also studios and gyms I have taught at, I have heard on more than one occasion from students and studio owners alike about a desire for "harder" classes and for more "difficult" poses to be taught. This can range from students making comments that they don't feel challenged enough physically, to them not feeling a "stretch" in poses any longer- The "I feel nothing" response.

Again, I don't want to judge this good or bad, but I do want to dissect it and examine to see what this has to teach me/us.

I for one can appreciate that the practice of yoga has so much to offer us and can align with us across the spectrum of multiple intentions. I feel hot practices have their place, as do I think working up to more challenging poses has a place for many folks too.

To me the practices in and of themselves are not what I question. I question and want to look more deeply at the intention, or rather the desire behind our actions.

I remember a while back I listened to a Tibetan Llama who was giving a talk on death and dying. During the course of his talk he mentioned this concept of "retreat", or rather "re-treat". He commented on how our tendency as human beings is to seek pleasure and avoid pain. When we find something we like, say for example, chocolate chip cookies, we like to "re-treat" ourselves to the experience. One cookie is rarely enough, we want more. Same can be true of anything.

I have found within my own life a constant drive to improve my experience. Again, not judging this quality, as the drive within us that seeks to improve things has a place within the flow of life. However, this part of me, and that I have noticed within others, has a hard time being with things as they are or simply appreciating things as they are. For example, say I have an amazing meal at my favorite restaurant, and afterwards I say, "you know what would have made that even better". It's like there is a hole that can never be filled within us that constantly demands our attention.

This hole, that appears to be bottomless, spans across all areas of our lives, from money, career, relationships, etc. It's the aspect of self that declares "if I just had $1000 more a month, I would be all set", or "If I get this job, then everything is going to be ok".

One of the ethical guidelines for yoga, is contentment. My take on it is that it is the practice of being with the "what is" of our lives and loving what is. It's also the practice of being with what we have and opening up to what we have as enough. The idea that nothing external can ground us, or make us be/feel anything better. All that we are springs forth from the inside. Our essence is our oneness with life and nothing outside of us can change that. And our time, whether on the mat, or within the container of other mindfulness practices, is to connect us to that internal world that grounds us and reminds us of that oneness and of our interdependence with all things. And in that place, and remembrance, we are whole already.

Which brings me back to the original thoughts. While I don't want to judge the aspects of practice that have us moving towards advanced asanas, or even "harder" "faster" experiences in class. I guess I ask us all to question the intention, our intention behind doing so. Is it in service of connecting you to the place within that is your source of groundedness--which it totally can be, or is it in service of the part of you that wants to be "re-treated".

It's worth exploring. Happy questioning to you!