Why I no longer refer to Yoga as a Gas Station
In my early twenties, before I discovered Kundalini Yoga, I practiced Bikram hot yoga at home, layers on, heating on full. I liked the style, it being only 26 postures and being warm the whole time.
There has been some controversy with Bikram, there’s a Netflix documentary about him called Yogi, Guru, Predator. A simple man, why so many flash cars?
I don’t doubt he helped and changed people’s lives over the years. If my hand hadn’t got hit by a car while cycling or my heating system didn’t break for months at the same time, I may have done it a lot longer.
The Universe has it’s ways of subtle ways of showing what’s to come.
In the audio recordings I listened to, his strong motivating tone while I moved positions, he described yoga to be like a gas station (petrol station). These words stuck to me and looking back I got home from a horrible job, cycling 3 miles there and 3 miles back. I rolled out my mat before dinner, convinced this gas station’ would give me enough energy to cook, clean, watch TV and talk with my partner. And it did!
Though doing things this way, I seemed to overlook why I needed that extra energy anyway. Was my job not interesting or satisfying enough? Was I doing everything in the house and not task delegating as I could? Was I watching rubbish tv to pass the time? Was I in a relationship that didn’t serve me?
Yes to every single one. I wrote a post sharing a great set of vows in 2016.
Yet every day I went to my gas station to fill up and be on my way, without questioning a darn thing.
Ask better questions, if it hurts to, dare your self.
Now I don’t see doing a yoga set as, like a gas station, I see it as coming to the mat to feel.
Really feel.
Whether it be yoga or meditation, in the mornings I can hear an influx of inspiration or frustration flood my way. I could block it all out and push on. Sometimes I do fists of anger or ego eradicator to begin, to release old energy.
Though if I sit at my cushion and cry, I allow myself to feel, know they are tears of grace, I do a short prayer asking for guidance and I carry on.
I feel rather than sit in resistance.
Have you had a similar experience you would like to share? Comment below.
*The image is a throw back to when I first started teaching at my parents house, I’d have a cup of tea in my rainbow mug while incense was burning and read some Kundalini material for a boost of inspiration.
