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A Need for Speed? |
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Is your yoga practice a one-night stand or a long-term relationship?
Photo by chris hansen
Do you remember when Tom Cruise had a “need for speed” as the iconic fighter jock, Maverick, in Top Gun? “I feel the need ... the need for speed.” It sounds strange, but I’m sometimes reminded of Mav and his famous quote (swoon) when I’m in yoga class. That’s because there are some “Mavericks” out there doing yoga. They like to go fast.
Who am I referring to? I’m talking about that person on the mat right next to yours. You know the one. You first notice them when they’re bustin’ a move through sun salutations. They’re always one beat ahead of you and the teacher as the class moves through the sequence. They’re the first into Up-Dog, levering up way ahead of the teacher’s call. Popping up like a groundhog on Groundhog’s Day. They’ve probably gone through their entire day at a frantic pace without even knowing why. Now they’re putting that same frenetic energy into their yoga practice. But is that really a big deal? Is there anything wrong with banging rapidly through the asanas?
I think so. Here’s why. Yoga has an amazing ability to work simultaneously on our bodies and minds, calming us as we alternately move and pause while following an “elongated natural cadence of breath.” (Thank you, Erin Finegold, for that perfect description.) Sustained deep breathing takes time. It can’t be rushed. So it follows that, when we match our movement to the breath, the asana sequence will be regulated to a measured pace.
As a practitioner you may, as in the aforementioned, be messing this up on your own but sometimes it’s the teacher who leads us astray. How many times have you been moving through the asanas, doing your best to elongate your breathing, only to realize that the teacher is cueing about twice as fast as you’re breathing? Therefore if you were to actually follow the teacher’s cues you would probably hyperventilate. As a practitioner and a teacher I am working very hard to maintain an awareness of this issue. As yoga teachers, our challenge is to simultaneously monitor the class, give personal adjustments, think about what we’re going to do next, and cope with interruptions all while maintaining a steady and realistic flow. It isn’t always easy. But I’m not complaining. I love my job.
Sun salutations notwithstanding, holding a pose for five elongated breaths is the ashtanga standard and I think it should be used in vinyasa and flow classes as well. You might be thinking, “Why? I mean, c’mon. I’ve got things to do. Can’t we drop it down to three and get outta here early?” My answer is “No.” This brings up an important issue you can address before you even walk through the studio door: intent.
What is your intent when you decide to practice? If your mind is set on bulldozing the practice so you can get to the end as fast as possible, you might be setting yourself up for trouble. When I see someone getting antsy I usually ask them, “Where are you going? What’s the rush?” To paraphrase yoga teacher Bryan Kest, when you’re practicing, you aren’t trying to get somewhere, because you’re already there. So sit back, kick your feet up, relax and stay awhile. Let the pose do its work. Remember, the breath isn’t just there to synchronize the class. It’s about getting oxygen, lots of oxygen, into your body. It’s also about giving you sufficient time to settle into a pose so you can reap its benefits. So if you try to rush the process you’ll end up cheating yourself. How so? Rushing leads to increased chances of injury, robs your practice of its calming effects, and it’s just plain annoying.
As far as I’m concerned it feels downright crappy to get into an asana and then two seconds later being told, “time to leave.” Kind of makes me think of (not from personal experience) the old “wham, bam, thank you ma’am. What? I was just getting to know you…” Like most things in life, yoga is a relationship. It takes a lifetime of bonding. You can’t do it in one night. And you can’t do it in three breaths.
I’d love to stimulate some discussion on this topic. If you have a story to tell or some thoughts to share, post them in the comments section below. While you’re out and about exploring, please feel free to drop into any of my classes. My schedule can be found at yogabon.com.
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Reader Comments:
Thank you for explaining why it's important to slow down in our practise. I find sychonizing my breath (through the nose and out the nose) during a flow be one of the most difficult things to do, and I work on it every day. Am I the only one who feels the need to exhale with an open mouth during most of my practise? I suppose it's a sign I'm really being taxed. ITE
I agree! I have seen this in my own experience and in others. We don't as a society "take time to smell the roses" and that is sad. If we did I think the world would be a different place. But the nice thing about yoga is that it can teach us that,and take our yoga practice off the matt and apply it to real life. I love the analogy of the "wham bam, thank you ma'am" very interesting!
Thanks Bonnie. Another great article/insight. An important reminder, particularly for those of us who seek out the "sweating on the floor, kick butt" experience. Yoga is a wonderful way to get in touch with our bodies and what better way to do that than to focus on alignment, elongate and truly feel each and every pose...while still maintaining the challenges that are central to your style of teaching.
HB
Bonnie Great points! I totally seek out the classes with a slower pace like yours, I've abandoned those that fly through poses, I'd much rather do 5-10 less poses and really be able to marinate in each asana rather than zip in and out, I've left classes anxious and frustrated when the teachers pace is too rapid, now If I do get caught in one of those classes I'll abandon their cues to move on and sink into poses. but it can be a distracting to ditch the groups vinyasa flow for your own pleasure/and or safety.
In my daily life I'm constantly zipping around, yoga is my sweet peaceful place where the pace is allowed to be guided by long breaths and an instructor with a calm challenging practice in mind. It is hard to turn off the busy bee pace on your own and its such a treat when someone else's voice and knowledge takes over. Thanks for that!
Thank you Bonnie. I'm slowing down right now.
great advice, bonnie! i think it's so true that it starts with setting an intent with your practice. my intent today will be to slow down and focus on my breath! thanks for another meaningful and valuable article!
I agree Bonnie. Once I tried an Ashtanga class, which was flowing through asanas at a more rapid pace. It was interesting to try something new, but I went into a position without proper alignment and injured my shoulder! I belive in slowing down and checking your form....
Great article Bonnie! Sometimes we can get so caught up in the next step that we completely miss where we are. Another lesson for both on and off the mat. Although the idea of marinating poses makes my legs burn:) ~tara
Awesome article Bonnie!
I know I've been the groundhog and have found peace slowing down so your article definitely hits home and I’m in gratitude for it. I came to the conclusion that I was not showing respect to my teachers and classmates by "speeding" thru postures. The energy we create as a group can be so special when we are all in harmony. I also believe I have improved my listening skills and found a deep relationship with each posture. Bonnie you rock, keep it up! namaste
blame CorePower for the wham bam thank you ma'am mentality- it just leads to injuries, jarring your muscles around like that (from personal experience); yoga is breath! If you get a physical work-out, great, but it's about the mind and breath.