For some, the word Yoga still conjures up images of people in complicated pretzel positions. They assume that flexibility is a pre-requisite to practicing yoga. If this were the case, the benefits of yoga would be available to a select few. Fortunately nothing could be further from the truth.

In Yoga we aim to cultivate a positive relationship with our Self. By developing awareness and acceptance of who we are, and how we respond to life’s challenges, we learn to live our lives more skilfully, and with less fear. Our practice can also teach us to replace impulse with reflection so that we can make better decisions and have fewer regrets.

I recently attended a Yoga Philosophy workshop in which the teacher referred to the techniques and practices of yoga as tools. He made the point that a standard toolkit usually contains a selection of tools, each of which is useful in it’s own way. We wouldn’t view a hammer as being more important than a screw-driver; it simply has a different purpose.

This tool analogy resonates with me. As a child I enjoyed spending time in my father’s workshop. He would spend hours maintaining his woodworking tools so that they would always be ready for use when he was working on a project. He approached the maintenance of his tools in the same way we can approach our practice, with discipline, patience and attention to detail.

Our yoga toolkit also contains a wide variety of tools:

• The Yamas and the Niyamas are our guidelines for personal and social conduct, which help us to live life with honesty and integrity.
• Through our Asana practice we maintain a strong and healthy body, which gives us the physical energy to live life fully.
• Practicing Pranayama will teach us to breathe more deeply and efficiently, and help to stabilise and strengthen our nervous system.
• There are meditation techniques to reduce mental and emotional stress, bringing us the perspective we need to respond to life’s challenges in a positive way.

Other yoga tools include chanting, Mantra (repeating certain sounds or phrases), and Mudra (hand gestures).

These tools also need to be maintained. That’s what our practice is for. The more we practice, the more proficient we become at using the tools. We begin to see how the skills we learn on the mat can help us in all areas of our lives.

It’s quite possible that one yoga tool resonates more strongly with us than others. Some of us might be drawn to the more meditative practices, while others may be more interested in the physical postures. If we can become skilled at a using variety of yoga tools, we’ll discover that they work together to foster mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing.

By staying with a challenging Asana and exploring ways to make the posture workable, we learn to be determined and resourceful under difficult circumstances. We discover that discomfort comes and goes, and that our response to it also changes from day to day.

If we find ourselves under pressure at work, stuck in traffic or dealing with a demanding toddler, we can tune into the breath and feel the calming effects of its steady rhythm.

Meditation practice teaches us to be present instead of being absent-minded. As we begin to live with more awareness, we find the time and space we need to make considered decisions, and we feel more in control of our circumstances. As we learn to let go of past regrets and future worries we find that we can be fully involved in our life as it unfolds.

Although we may not use the Sanskrit terminology, we sometimes intuitively use Mantra to focus our minds on a certain outcome. We may repeat a phrase to ourselves that brings us courage when we are about to embark on a new venture. Practicing chants and Mantra can literally help us to find our own voice and tap into our inner resources.

We may instinctively use hand gestures to help us emphasize a point in conversation, or to express certain emotions. We sometimes cross our fingers when we wish for a certain outcome, or clasp our hands together in delight. As we become aware of the energetic effects of particular Mudra, we can use them more deliberately, to calm the mind or foster self-confidence. Some Mudra also serve to intensify the effects of the Pranayama techniques. They are like mini yoga poses for our hands that we can use anywhere, at any time.

Knowing that we have a wide variety of tools in our toolkit, and that those tools are well maintained, means that we are ready to take on the challenges that life may bring. This knowledge gives us confidence and self belief. In this way, our practice empowers us. By approaching each element of our practice with an open mind and simply doing the best we can in each moment, we’ll find the benefits of yoga are available to us regardless of our ability to get into a pretzel pose.

~ Lynda Miers-Henneveld