When shit gets uncomfortable

Look, I can talk to you about chakras and energy channels if you want, but my jumping off point usually tends to be with something easier to grasp. Granted, ball-gags might not be up everyone's street either, but I don't judge. If you want to balance out the chakras with some light BDSM, that's cool - just leave that kinda play at home when you come to class, ok.

But anyway, what I was trying to get to was that modern postural yoga, the asana practice, is not without discomfort. From tight hamstrings, to difficult binds, the practice encourages us to find space and mobility in the physical body - but it doesn't come easy. We are counteracting some of the limitations modern life puts on our body, and in the process, there will be push-back from tension, tightness and areas of discomfort. But exploring this realm gently and mindfully is where growth and adaptation of the body can occur.

Don't get me wrong, we're not actively pursuing pain here. (Despite the vibes this Pulp Fiction screenshot might be/is giving) Far from it. But by understanding where exactly the discomfort is helps us build a more accurate awareness of our body. Where exactly is the resistance? Where is the tension? Which movements trigger it?

Within the 8 limbs of ashtanga yoga is the yamas and niyamas, the moral dos and don'ts, of which probably the most well known one is ahimsa, or non-violence. This restraint applies both outwardly and inwardly. So to practice ahimsa, means to not cause yourself pain or suffering - no matter how badly you want to make that bind.

But discomfort has another benefit too. When you're breathing deeply and slowly going deeper into a posture, our focus is going to become even sharper. That awareness of your body you've been developing is making you very present. While 'being present' might sound very self help book, it's really a process that's calming the mind and letting it concentrate on just one thing, rather than the multiple stresses and tasks we occupy our minds with the rest fo the day. Spread that out over a whole class or practice, and it becomes easier to see how you get a mental meditative switch-off, while your body explores more comfort and space.

So while the discomfort factor for Marsellus Wallace and Butch Coolidge (above) is definitely going to be quite high, it's pretty safe to assume that they're both incredibly 'in the moment' and present - there's no way they have capacity to think about replying to that work email, or worry whether or not that speed camera flashed this morning. And through practice, we get some of that too, but without the leather.