Today I got the chance to take Julie’s Sunday yoga class and she inspired me to talk to you today about barriers. As we moved through our postures, she reminded us that yoga is initially about acknowledging the physical barriers in our bodies. Maybe for you it's tight hamstrings or maybe you store tension in your hips. Regardless of where we hold tension, as we brush up against these barriers or resistance in our bodies, we have the opportunity to soften around them and to let go of layers of tightness one breath at a time. Of course, the physical benefits with continuity of practice are pretty apparent. We become more bendy, we restore range of motion and we reduce pain. But maybe even more importantly, as we face these physical barriers and learn to let them go, we give ourselves space to face the emotional barriers that surface as well. Barriers to feel gratitude or to feel confident. Often for me it’s a barrier to accept things as they are or to let go of how I think they should be. As we face these emotional barriers on our mats, we can soften around them just as we did the physical barriers and find a way to let go which ultimately allows us to get more enjoyment and fulfillment out of our lives.
Ok, so here comes the segue to the zero tolerance connection. Julie also mentioned how barriers can be both positive or negative. These physical and emotional barriers inside of us can be looked at as positive in that they give us opportunities to practice letting go and lessening our reactivity. BUT external barriers can often distract us from focusing on what IS going on inside us and instead diverts our attention to what IS going on around us. Examples, of external barriers in our yoga practice are 1) chatter in the yoga room before or during class, 2) allowing latecomers to enter once class has started and 3 ) CELL PHONES!! We have been working with the staff to 1) limit the chatter in the room and are 2) encouraging students arriving more than 5 minutes into class to consider taking another class. We are doing our best to curtail both of these while understanding that human nature will not result in either of them being totally eliminated.
However, when it comes to 3) having cell phones in the yoga room we are adopting a ZERO TOLERANCE policy effective immediately. Staff and students alike will be asked to leave their cell phones with their other personal belongings while taking class with no exceptions. Anticipated objections will be that you are on call or that you have a sick child or parent you need to stay connected to. Our response will be that if you can not be without your phone for that one hour then we will suggest you take a different class. I obviously feel strongly about this and feel that it is in the best interest of all the students in every class that we stand firm on this policy. We want to allow every student who attends the assurance that we are doing everything we can to minimize these external barriers in the hopes of enhancing each student’s connection to themselves and their own internal barriers while on their mat.
I hope this message helps you to understand our need for ZERO TOLERANCE!!
Give yourself the gift of unplugging for one hour!!
