I recommend yoga but I don’t do yoga.
I have to confess some things:
I have only done one yoga class in my life.
I hated it.
I do not currently meditate regularly.
Honestleigh, I’m feeling quite uncomfortable putting that out there. My overachiever self is embarrassed at some level. Here I am, purportedly an example to others and, yet, I don’t do the very vital practices I recommend to others. Am I a hypocrite?
As Eastern mindfulness techniques permeated Western culture, the mainstream adoption of these practices progressed fairly quickly. I witnessed firsthand some high achieving friends of mine dive head first into this world, raving about the benefits. Who doesn’t want better focus? Isn’t contentment something we should all strive for? Flexibility is as important as strength, right? I, for one, only recently have been able to touch my toes while standing.
Given that entire cultures are based around these values, it seems that there is widespread social proof that “this stuff works”. It kind of sends the message that if you’re not doing these things, not only are you missing out, but you’re sure to stall in some part of your life. Right?
Well, let’s take a closer look.
Meditation, yoga, or any Eastern practice is not going to solve your problems. Nor are they going to provide you with all of the magical answers to life’s questions. But these practices will certainly eat up valuable time you could spend doing other things. And, for many people, there’s going to be a financial cost involved. After all, teachers need to pay bills too.
Additionally, consider, what are the benefits of these practices that you’re looking to attain? Are you actually deficient in any of these areas? If I’m being honest, I’ve never had interfering issues with focus, attention, health, or sleep. (Flexibility? 0 stars. But 🤫)
When I put my mind on something, I can elect to continue focusing on it, should I have the desire to. I have had astute self-awareness from a very young age, so my feeling has been I wouldn’t discover much through adding these practices into my routine. My doctors tell me I’m in great health and I sleep throughout the night every night. I’m also quite self-reliant.
It would be natural to think I’m suggesting that yoga and meditation are potentially fruitless activities that could be considered a waste of time. On the contrary, I think they are stellar tools! I still regularly advise my clients to add them to their routines. Not only do many report that they find them helpful, but these practices tend to open up neural pathways that weren’t already there, helping to find peace, a calmer mind, a centered core, and better overall health.
But don’t trust my clients. A little bit of the science of yoga and meditation:
Multiple studies have shown that yoga can decrease the secretion of cortisol, the primary stress hormone.
In a study on anxiety, those who practiced yoga had significantly lower levels of anxiety than the control group.
A small 2014 study showed that 12 weeks of yoga reduced inflammatory markers in breast cancer survivors with persistent fatigue.
Researchers have found that meditation helps to counter habituation—the tendency to stop paying attention to new information in our environment.
A 2014 meta-analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that meditation programs resulted only in small to moderate reductions in anxiety and depression.
Mindfulness practices help us to be less reactive to stressors and to recover better from stress when we experience it.
I’m impressed.
So try many Eastern practices. See what works for you!
It’s not that Eastern practices have low utility; instead, it’s that one answer doesn’t fit all.
Everyone has an opinion.
Everyone has their own unique perspective.
What works for most people might not work for you.
So, instead of experiencing life as full of shoulds and should nots, know that the possibility is there that you can find out for yourself what may or may not work. Should you try yoga? Should you try meditation? Should you try a new Eastern technique that may assist you? Yes, yes, and yes! Just don’t hold expectations that it will be something it’s not. It may be a game changer for you. It also may be something you don’t plan to continue after one session.
Maybe your yoga will be dance. Maybe your meditation will be crochet. Maybe your mindfulness technique will be lots of sex. Hubba hubba!
Don’t take my or anyone’s words as gospel. Instead, leave your expectations at the door for whatever you d and allow yourself to experience something with a fresh mind, a willing heart, and an open mind. Only with that perspective will you truly be able to evaluate afterward if something is right for you or not. And if it’s not, no judgment. There are many other ways to achieve what you want. I can help you plan out what may work better. Let’s discuss!
After all, if you were to do every recommended practice that fitness and health gurus suggest, your morning routine would literally be 3 hours long. Ain’t nobody got time for that! You must pick and choose what works for you. And there’s no better way to know than by trying yourself.
When you engage in life by choice instead of by guilt, you will more quickly find better fulfillment and experience longer periods of contentment. Now, that is something I do want for you. It’s not the Eastern practices I’m hoping you’ll experience--it’s the results of finding what works for you that will benefit you in the long run.
So given how busy and full my life is, you may wonder what is my practice? Well, my practice is gratitude and self-awareness. I find myself throughout the day feeling thankful for what I have and what my experience is. Also, I listen deeply to myself. If it’s time for a break, I give myself a break. I don’t often find myself doing things I don’t have to do. If it’s me time, I take me time. I honor myself in that way.
What practices work for you?
