Hello April

People step onto the mat for different reasons: seeking flexibility, calm, strength, community. I went to my first yoga class because of back issues, and quickly discovered deeper motivation. For when you quiet the noise around, you discover something more. Yoga helps to dismantle as much as it helps to reshape. This transformation occurs through discernment.

Change in yoga isn’t about arbitrary destruction. The idea is not to knock down something simply to eliminate it. Instead, change in yoga occurs with a position: as you position your body in new ways, you simultaneously shift your perspective and open your mind to new possibilities. You might see a pose and think, "No way I can do that." But as you work toward it, your mindset begins to transform. This is where discernment begins—perceiving without judgment.

Take the standing pose, Parsvottanasana (Intense Side Stretch), for example. You step one leg back and fold forward. But are your legs straight? Is your weight balanced? Is your torso extending, and your back heel grounded? You’re not being overly critical; you’re practicing yoga. Similarly, yoga encourages awareness of the thoughts that arise. What am I afraid of? How can I extend this feeling of goodwill?

I love stepping onto the mat because there’s nowhere else to go. The only real distraction is my mind, and while that is disruption enough, once I take the time to discern my actions and following sensations of my body, I’m fully present. On the mat, all you need is right there: you. As you deepen your practice and enhance your postures, props may come into play, but the real dismantling happens the moment you begin to perceive without judgment.