'Soft and strong like water' I often use this phrase when teaching. This is the quality we are seeking to embody when practicing Ashtanga Yoga, soft and strong - like water. The balance between ease and effort, rooted yet expansive, or in Patanjali's words: 'Sthira sukham asanam' (a steady, comfortable posture).
We are seeking strength without rigidity. We are seeking to move with fluidity and expansiveness without losing our strength. We are seeking to move in a way that tells the body-mind we are safe, strong, capable and don't need to close in and defend ourselves.
What we do in body gets reflected in breath and mind, so a steady and expansive body leads to steady and expansive breath and steady expansive mind. When we feel physically rooted we feel capable and focused, but we don't want to be stuck; to feel safe we must also feel open, to have a sense of freedom; and so we balance this rootedness with expansion. We firm up our foundation, be that the feet, hands or bottom; and we expand through heart, crown of head and spine.
When on the mat we are practicing at life, so finding this 'soft and strong' quality on the mat helps us to find the same quality in life. Strong, yet relaxed, flexible yet grounded, centred yet open. This is a feeling the body-mind associates with safety and when we feel safe we can feel well. The more often we embody this spirit the more the body-mind system learns that we are strong and safe, that we can be open.
When we feel safe we can sleep well, eat well, our digestion can be regular. When we feel safe we can act from love and curiosity, instead of fear and suspicion. We are curious as to motives, we are open to the perspectives of others, we are curious about our own assumptions and patterns.
Soft and strong, like water - also alludes to the fact that water can erode rock, through steady, consistent action over a long period of time. This consistency is something that we are invited to bring to our yoga practice in order for it truly support us to live with greater joy and ease.
When we practice our yoga consistently over a long period of time, our body-mind system benefits and this ripples out to our relationships. Making an appointment with yourself to practice yoga at the schedule that suits your life, is making an appointment to support your body-mind and relationships - it's showing up for yourself and for all beings you come into contact with.
May you be soft and strong, like water beautiful beings.
Emma x