Sun Moon Yoga

      I went to a Level 2 yoga class at a local studio and enjoyed being led through a practice by another teacher.  We did some nice warming up poses, some core strengtheners, some standing poses, a few balances and ended up with some reclining twists.  It was a lovely experience to be able to apply all the techniques I am constantly teaching others to another teacher’s class.  Of course, she didn’t know all the cues and pointers going on in my head, and she probably couldn’t see all the fine tuning I was doing while holding poses like Side Angle and Warrior II, Tree and Half Moon.  After class she apologized for not making the class challenging enough.  I had to reassure her that I was thoroughly challenged.  For to me, a Level 2 class is not about the difficulty of the poses but the level of awareness that is brought to each asana.  During her class I had been thoroughly attentive to my body—to its tensions, its weaknesses, its holding patterns, its strengths.  I had worked in each posture to bring balance and structure with just the right amount of effort.  I had worked equally on softening some components and strengthening others.   

     In a beginner’s class you will often find people who are applying too much effort.  In a Level 2 class, it may appear that no effort is being applied at all. But don’t be fooled by appearances. All the work is going on in the deep places where effort meets ease and work meets rest, where the art of balancing the opposing tension of opposites is being learned.  

     Young and old, male and female, child and adult, leader and follower--we're all learning to balance the opposing tensions in our lives.  God has established these ongoing, perpetual rhythms.  The tide comes in - the tide goes out; the sun rises - the sun sets; the rain falls - the sun shines; someone is born - someone dies; we inhale - we exhale.  Day after day we are confronted with those who fill us with joy, those who annoy us; those who say too much, those who say too little; those who are too personal, those who are impersonal.  Yet we are given instructions that the two shall become one; children obey your parents; fathers do not exasperate your children; husbands love your wives; wives respect your husbands; submit one to another; love your neighbor.  All these instructions presuppose that people must be in our lives for a good reason.  Could it be that they are there to teach us this art of balancing opposing tensions of opposites?

     Joy-sorrow; pride-disappointment; work-rest; effort-ease; stretching-contracting; sun-moon.   Ha-tha Yoga:  Finding balance in rhythms of life's relationships.

The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. 

Psalm 74:16 (NIV)