Why Yoga* 2 Years Later!!!

A lot has changed since I first started my spiritual journey. When I first started my yoga practice I was just researching ways to heal my knee as well as my spiritual and mental state of being. Early on I never knew the practice of yoga would lead to something deeper. If you have read my first blog post ” Why Yoga” and “Loose As A Goose” can see how and why I started this journey.

I get asked the question often, “How did you get it to yoga?”. And I am always compelled to tell the story of how I popped my knee out place while in the middle of a dance performance. How*So Glad You Asked*?!! During that time I was out of shape mentally, spiritually, and physically. Mentally I was lacking true self love. I did not realize my value. Somehow I lost site of how influential, talented, and powerful I truly was. Being passive had become second nature causing me to lose my voice in many cases. Over time I silenced my own voice allowing views of others to guide me. I didn’t know who I was; resulting in me big unhappy. Spiritually there was something missing…… me. I was searching for something outside of self. I expecting everything to magically work itself out while I just sat and waited. Because of this mentality I found myself crying a lot; I was not following the path set out for me. Deep inside I always knew there was a force protecting me. However, I was not connected the way I should have been. Physically I ended up putting on a little weight and I was extremely out of shape. Due to my injury these things doubled. Poor eating habits and an inconsistent working out routine does have its effects on the body. I also found myself not stretching properly before I dance which caused me to strain muscles over time. Needless to say yoga helped aid me in the realization and soothing of all my ailments. Many of you may think saying “Namaste” and burning sage doesn’t do anything. Well I assure you may be right (0.1 % accurate). However, it is about the core principles that change your life and the lives of those around you. (We will dive into that a little later.) Initially I started my practice at home on my front porch. I came across YOGA WITH ADRIENE on YouTube and I was hooked. But we already know this right?……RIGHT!!

Here is the reason I decided to give you an update on Why

I realized yoga is something that has to be a part of my life. I have learned that yoga is more than doing the Asana (Poses). And it is also not just saying “Namasta” and burning sage or incense. Yoga is a lifestyle; it consist of how you treat yourself daily as well as others. It is about being aware of why and how you feel day in and day out. Owning those feelings as well as reflecting and adjusting those emotions if they do not serve your highest good. Most importantly yoga reminds us we are always learning. WHY?! because we will never know everything. In that we learn how to tame the ego; which means getting uncomfortable. From admitting your wrongs to letting go of things that never truly resonated with our true self. I realized early on that I had a lot of things that were weighing me down spiritually. As I move in and out of yoga poses emotions come up from my past as well as present state. There have been moments where I have cried during a yoga flow or meditation because of the mental space I was in during that time. This is not a bad thing at all; being a yogi is about being. Sweating, crying, shacking, and even falling are all signs of cleansing. Yoga cleanses us of ego, negativity, and all things rooted in fear. *How is this possible?!* Daily we allow our thoughts to unconsciously control our actions. Many of us are aware and refuse to admit it may be the cause of our unhappiness. In yoga many emotions come up at once and we are guided to breath and push pass them. Once that is done we then are able to reflect on the process in peace and quiet. Allowing ourselves to breathe; reflecting on who we truly are and what we are capable of. As I continue my personal practice I give myself more and more time to sit and reflect. I realized those quite moments are important because we are able to see that the answers we sought out for had been there the whole time. Is maintaining a daily yoga practice hard? Of Course! However there is always room and time to get even the smallest of flows in. We can yoga in the car, in our beds, even in the kitchen. Just take some time to get weird and be a kid again. It all about dedicating time to yourself to get connected.

When I dedicate myself to something I do research to see how things came to pass. When it comes to yoga you are forever a student. I love that reality because there is always something new to learn about yourself and the practice. You can always add on or take away from your practice; the same holds true to your life journey. The history of yoga runs very deep. Depending on the training you take and the books you read you will learn that yoga began in India over 5,000+ years ago. To understand the teachings of yoga we must first overstand it is a lifestyle not a religion. Yes!!! being Yogi is not a religion and is not religion specific. Many people connect yoga to Hinduism and/or Buddhism solely with the misconception that it is a religious practice or devil worship. While some believe it is a “feminine” practice that men shouldn’t do. Truth is in India men and women alike can take on the lifestyle of a Yogi starting at very early ages. Men are some of the leading gurus of the Yogis.

As we dive deeper into the truth we must look to Mother Africa for the original origins of Yoga.

An even deeper truth to this reality is that OUR ancestors created this spiritual system over 10,000 years ago. What is known today as Kemetic/Egyptian Yoga; or as the ancients would say ” Smai Tawi” is the first spiritual practices known to man. However Egypt or Kemet is not were the concepts were birthed. Ancient Nubia and other neighboring dynasties gave birth to these spiritual concepts and yogic text; which Kemet payed homage to. Meditation is noted as the first style of yoga known to man. The Kemetic yogic system is recognized as the foundation of religious structures around the world. When we look at the meaning; yoga means to yoke. Connecting the breath to body as well as our higher and lower self. Smai Tawi ( Kemetic Yoga) means the union of two lands; holding the same purpose and truth as what would be considered today as western yoga inspired by India. As we dig deeper we will find no mention of a Devil in ancient times. The satin or Setian self are our impure thoughts and worldly desires; which strokes our egos. The root of our irrational impulsive actions as well as our greed. Yoga is designed to help us find that balance so that our ego may be satisfied in a way which feeds the soul; bringing a sense of wholeness to ones being. Many mathematicians, architects, prophets, sages, and much more in early Kemet mastered yoga before perfecting their craft. Yoga was used as a means to reach their highest realm of thinking and self. It is were we found ourselves before entering into the world to master ourselves. When looking at hieroglyphics we notice the correlation of yoga in the many poses our ancestors were in. It is there we notice some Kemetic Yoga poses were named after the gods. Each pose focuses on alignment physically as well as spiritually. The goal is to always balance those energies within ourselves. In doing so we are able to cleanse ourselves of the energy that weighs us down. When the Kemetic Empire spread to India the spiritual practices followed as well. When studying Kemetic Yoga and Modern Yoga the language may be different however the principles and concepts are all the same. Acknowledging words and meaning become lost in translation and dialect; we can see the commonalities run deeper the more we dive into the yogic practice. Although there are many schools of thought the foundation and destination is the same; total peace. There are many forms of yogis and all are respected because of that one simple truth. India keeps the Kemetic Yoga essence alive in the hills. Many individuals break away from their societal structure in search of a deeper meaning to life. This involves fasting and praying for many days. As well as heavy meditation; in this yogis are able to be detach themselves from what is now seen as a normal way of life. The yogi is detached yet fully conscious and in tune.

Benefits

On my last post I go in depth on the benefits of yoga in many ways. After 2 years of practicing I am able to share more of my experience. I used yoga as rehabilitation after my knee injury; from that point on I have been using yoga as a go to for everything. Yoga is great for lower and upper back pains as well as shoulders. For women with painful menstrual cramps restorative and gentle yoga is a great tool for the bloating and the tension. For athletes as well as those who lift a lot of weights yoga gives a wider range of motion and prevents injuries. Yoga is also great for those who have anxiety as well as for those who battle with depression. The breathing techniques assist with calming of the nervous system and treats asthma as well. There are many healing components to the yogic practice and many are still researching other benefits. There is a sense of discipline within the practice that aids adults and children alike with concentration. Those we struggle with a spinal condition can benefit from the practice as well. Where there is a need yoga meets it.