The experience made me realize that in yoga, and in life, it’s important to prioritize our own needs over external perceptions. As a yoga teacher, I had often encouraged students to find solace in child’s pose, but it took that emotional moment for me to truly embrace the practice myself.
A reminder: Child’s pose is yoga
Yoga is about more than just physical postures; it’s about a union of mind, body, and soul. And sometimes, that union requires us to sit with our emotions and struggles, as I did in that class. By staying in child’s pose, I embraced a form of practice that allowed me to be fully present and aware of my own needs.
Staying in child’s pose for the entire class was a form of emotional surrender for me. It allowed me to soften and release in a way that traditional yoga flows wouldn’t have supported. I tapped into the principle of brahmacharya, or “the right use of energy,” by listening to my body’s needs and allowing the practice to serve me.
Ultimately, the experience taught me the importance of embracing ourselves as we are, weaknesses and strengths included, and giving ourselves the care and compassion we need, even if it means deviating from the traditional flow of a yoga class. Child’s pose isn’t just a resting posture; it’s a powerful tool for tuning into our own needs and finding calm amidst emotional upheaval.
Child’s pose can be the ‘right use of energy’
Embracing child’s pose as my home base for the entire class allowed me to fully surrender and acknowledge the validity of my emotions. It was a reminder that true growth often comes in moments of chaos and emotional release, and that allowing ourselves to fully experience and process our feelings is an essential part of the yoga journey.
In the end, I learned that it’s crucial to remain open to receiving what we truly need, even if it means deviating from the norm or disrupting the status quo. The real accomplishment in yoga isn’t in pushing ourselves beyond our limits, but in giving ourselves exactly what we need, moment by moment, without judgment or hesitation. Child’s pose, in its simplicity, offers us a powerful tool for embracing ourselves and finding peace amidst the chaos of our emotions.
