Disconnected

Having taught yoga and movement for several years, I have seen many people in many different postures.  At times, I glance across the room and everyone looks lined up and centered. And at others...not so much.  Take Half Moon (Ardha Chandrasana) as pictured above.  For those unfamiliar with yoga, this might look just fine in their eyes.  She's hanging out in this pose, spreading limbs in many directions and perhaps they're wondering, "hey, could I do that?"

For the initiated, they might notice a few things about the pose. For better alignment, the angle of her standing foot could point toward the block, which would externally rotate her leg and not put her knee joint in an awkward position.  She's flexing at her hips, throwing her torso in a forward position (and her backside pressing backward not lining up over her base of support) and her top raised arm looks as though it's drifting behind her, as if detached from the rest of her torso.

From a teaching perspective the above picture is a juicy opportunity to offer adjustments that might make the pose feel better and more integrated with the rest of her body.  

When watching many people practice yoga I often notice how disconnected people are from where parts of their body are in space.  When people lift their leg behind them and are asked to "straighten" their knee joint, it's as though because they can see it, they can't straighten it.  Similarly, for poses where the torso revolves with an extended arm reaching out from the side.  The arm tends to drift behind the lateral (side) plane of the body into a seemingly unknown realm, behind the body adding an odd lift into the shoulder.

It begs the question, "Is being disconnected from our body in a yoga pose a reflection from being disconnected from other areas of our life?"  When we have little idea as to the relationship of where our arm is reaching, is it similar to where our minds are wandering?  How often do you actually notice the negative self-talk?  How long does it rattle on before you say to yourself, "Hey! Pipe down in there...this isn't serving me!"  Or when you unconsciously repeat a phrase such as "ya know?"or "Now we're gonna..."  My husband (thankfully) broke my "ya know" habit by interrupting me every time I'd say it, which was often.

Raising consciousness can begin on our mats through our asana (physical) practice.  When we begin to create a clearer connection to what is happening in our body, our mind builds a new bridge of awareness to the experience.  Over time, we continue to fine tune our knowledge of what's happening in our body, so much so that we whittle down the point of focus to the pinkie toe and the right side of the rib cage.  We sense and feel at a deeper level which is reflected in how our practice feels.  When we begin to step toward this the practice gains a sense of ease, grace and flow.

The same can happen in our mental chatter.  When we begin to notice and interrupt the dialogue that is negative, unflattering or destructive, we begin to move toward thoughts and words that are supportive, gentle and loving.

Yet one thing needs to happen before the magic can begin.  We need to roll out our mats and step on.  It also helps to have a competent and aware teacher to guide us in our process and be the spark that lights the flame toward self-love.