The Edge

Last week I was inspired in our exploration of Isvara Pranidhana the final Niyama that is all about surrender. I found a description by Emma Newly which was:

"Surrendering to what is requires trust in our deepest Self, our intuition and the courage to express ourselves for who we are, as we are, with all of our perfect imperfections, which ultimately leads to freedom."

The part that really stuck with me was the word "trust" which has led me to my thought of the week-getting to know our edge.

Often in a yoga class we might hear an instruction of going to the edge of a pose, finding its boundary that divides benefit from harm. In our physical practice of yoga, the more experienced we become the better we get at finding that place of our physical limit, playing with what that means and having the wisdom to recognize that the edge is constantly shifting. In order to know this, we must pay attention to what's happening in the moment, rather than relying on a past impression of the pose. We need to experience the NOW of the pose, finding our breath throughout the entire process. In some ways, people who are used to undertaking a strong practice of yoga, might get quite good at actually ignoring their edge and pushing more toward an attainment of a pose rather than being with what is.

In all classes, but in therapeutic yoga in particular, I teach people what it means to be at their edge by asking three questions.  

1. Does this feel safe in my body?
2. Will I be okay tomorrow?
3. If I have chronic pain, am I dialing it up?

Obviously we want to answer "yes" to numbers 1 and 2, and "no" to question number 3. By doing so, we have greater insight into what is happening on that particular day within our physical experience. This is particularly important for those newer to the practice of yoga as connecting to our own biofeedback, we learn to not only become present in our practice, but do so from a safer place.

The other side of "the edge" coin can be quite different. That's the place where we go to the edge of our emotional/mental/spiritual experience. For a moment, think about a recent interaction you had with somebody that was uncomfortable, such as an argument or contacting a company's complaint department. As you recall this conversation, what emotion arose? Anger, frustration, elation? What was your reaction to the emotion? Did you want to pick a fight with the person? Walk away or hang up the phone? Or were you frozen, not knowing what to do?

If you notice, the fight, flight or freeze response is a signal that we are fully activated in our sympathetic nervous system, an inherent part of being human. The problem arises when we stay stuck in our sympathetic nervous system and are unable to connect to the parasympathetic part of the nervous system where we relax, renew and restore. 

Yoga gives us the perfect tool for learning how to watch our experiences from a place of non-judgment.  We begin to find equanimity in both our physical and mental experiences. We go to the edge of what challenges us emotionally and instead of moving away from the edge, we step closer to it. We look at the experience from a place of curiosity rather than condemnation and as a result, over time, we begin to find a greater sense of ease and peace.

The two-sided coin of the edge asks us to step away when we are physically pushing beyond our limits and to turn toward discomfort when we hit that often stuck place of our emotional, mental and spiritual selves. When we do so, when we let go, ultimately surrendering as described in Ishvara Pranidhana, we grow.

So let this become part of your practice this week. Take a look at when you are pushing and where you can let go further into the experience. I've been sharing one of my all-time favorite quotes this week:

"When I walk to the edge of all the light I have and take a step into the darkness of the unknown, I believe one of two things will happen.

There will be something solid for me to stand on or I will be taught to fly."

~S. Marlin Edges