Aging - We are all doing it!

I have a confession to make.

I don’t love yoga. I have a belief that I am supposed to, though. Yoga is a sister meditative practice – meditation through movement. Yoga brings us into our bodies as it invites deeper awareness of who we are, where we are most stuck, and leads the way into greater ease. I should love this!

Another reason I have a belief that I should love yoga is that I have been involved in embodied movement my whole life. I used to love running, and now I love walking; I studied martial arts for many years, studied dance for years, did weight training - and always felt strong, flexible, and comfortable moving my body.

But now, when it seems every day brings some new ache or pain, some new motion to avoid,  some further limitation, movement does not come as easily and certainly doesn’t feel comfortable or fun.

So when my lovely and wise yoga teacher, Pam Gaither, reminds us to ‘meet ourselves where we are’, it reminds me that it can be Ok that I have a new ache to work around or treat with care. It is how it is, and when I want to cry from frustration and the loss of my former abilities, I need to meet myself right there – at the frustration and loss – and soften my heart.

Of course, the temptation to rage against the newest limitation is exactly what is most UNhelpful. And it brings me right to the core Buddhist teaching: not to resist what is. Not to rage against an unwelcome reality but to see it and meet it with some compassion. I recall that pithy yet so very true teaching: What we resist persists. Work to improve what can be improved, yes, but not to get stuck in that angry, resentful, cramped place because we don’t like something.

So, today this is what my yoga practice taught me, reminded me of: it’s not yoga that I don’t love. Yoga is wonderful; it’s my current relationship to it that causes the problem. The good news is I have 100% control over my relationship to it!

Just as I have 100% control over my relationship with my aches and pains. I can push, resist, ignore, wallow, rage, grouse, and despair. Or I can say ‘this is how it is right now’ and give myself the acceptance, kindness, and support that I’d offer a child or a friend – or anyone - who was struggling. Then I can apply the ointments, remedies, therapies, doctor visits, and treatments that are suggested. And be a happier, more peaceful person doing so.

Thank you, yoga! I will continue to work on my relationship with you.

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