Yoga for the Inflexible

The highest form of yoga is in the quality of presence we bring to each pose.

This does not require flexibility.

“I’m the most inflexible person you will ever meet,” is a disclaimer I have heard many times from students and clients. I see people in class straining to touch their toes, or wash over with embarrassment because they cannot bend further.   Since yoga has been taken out of its spiritual context and placed in American gyms, it is often approached as a sport or goal.  This misunderstanding breaks my heart a little, because the practice of yoga is not about being good at it or doing it right.

Yoga poses, or asanas, are simply positions that create sensations in your body.  Practicing them repeatedly can bring your body and mind into balance.  Each yoga pose is an opportunity to FEEL something happening.  An “inflexible” person has an equal, if not better, opportunity to stay focused in class, because they will experience more sensation.  If you concentrate on organizing your body into position, notice the sensations that arise, and stay aware of your breath:  you develop the ability to be present.  THIS is the point of yoga, not the fact that you have finally touched your toes, (although it may be a fun benefit).

So take the pressure off, there are no yoga trophies, competitions, or awards ceremonies.   The real measure of success is how present you are in each pose in each moment, not about how far you can stretch, or what it looks like.  Your internal experience is what counts, and this can never be judged or enjoyed by anyone else but you.