Hello February,
I recently participated in a visibility challenge initiated by social media influencer Susanna Bartakati. Rather than focusing on tough poses, Bartakati encouraged participants to delve deeper into their inner truths and speak those truths. It was a bold and, from what I could tell, successful step towards highlighting yoga’s spiritual roots and its alignment with satya, the attitude of truthfulness in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
For me, stepping onto the mat has always been about creating a space for openness and exploration. As I write in my book, Mindfulness: A Teenager’s Guide to Managing Stress and Life Decisions, “it demarcates a space for you to ‘be’ when the world bombards you with input.” Much of that input we seek out ourselves. That’s why the borders of the mat can act as a physical and mental island on which we can explore how we respond to sensations, emotions, and thoughts. If we are open to that exploration, truths begin to reveal themselves: “I am impatient,” “I am uneasy right now,” “my leg is quivering,” “my breath is easy,” “oh, I am at ease.”
You don’t need a yoga mat for this. A designated physical space or a scent or some object or photo that draws your mind away from everyday needs work just as well because, ultimately, it’s a mental space, a conscious space. Here’s an example, I’ve been breaking down twisting poses in classes over the past weeks. Last week, we focused on the gaze. Have you ever noticed that your head swings around when your body revolves. It’s as if your brain doesn’t trust where your body is headed so it keeps an eye on the movement. If you consciously rest your gaze on a spot so that your head doesn’t move with a part of your body, a receptivity of sensation arises in order to “feel” rather than see from the surface. This is awareness.
Yet, the journey of self-awareness doesn’t end with self-discovery; it extends into our interactions with the world around us, making it a social attitude. Giving yourself space to trust yourself, to be open and explore, allows your awareness to unveil truth about you and what is around you: “Hey, I actually am stronger than I thought.” “Wow, this topic is indeed important to me.” And perhaps, “May everyone experience this.” Truthfulness does not imply insensitivity. Trust in yourself, become aware of the now, and see what profound connections you cultivate.