In the last ten years, I have taught a wide range of people. I have led class for professional hockey and football players, MMA fighters , world class musicians, stay at home parents, high powered executives, surgeons, school teachers and even a few circus performers.
While one would think that all of these people from different walks of life would approach yoga in very different ways, I have noticed that the trap of the "Yoga Goal" can gobble up anyone, at any time.
Photo by Anita Ritenour But wait.
"How is having a goal for one’s Yoga practice, a trap?" You might say.
"Isn't is good to have goals?"
Here is what I think: On one hand, goals are great. They give us a benchmark. They give us something clear to strive for and work up to, and when we achieve our goal’s, it is a clear sign that progress has been made. However, the trap of the "Yoga Goal" has caught us when any posture becomes an obsession.
I have seen people reduced to tears as they battled through another seemingly failed attempt at headstand. I have seen normally sweet, kind students turn a certain shade of green as their neighbour lifted into Pincha Mayurasana (forearm stand) with grace, while their own two legs stayed glued to the ground. I have heard words and sounds uttered in backbends that would be more suitable at my Crossfit gym than in front of a Buddha statue (some from within the 4 corners of my own mat).
And for what?
To reach a "Yoga Goal".
When this happens, normally sensible people stop thinking of yoga as a complete practice and start to see their practice as means to an end. More often than not, the "Yoga Goal" isn't something that is reasonable for their level of practice or their physical ability, yet it doesn't to matter to the ensnared subject.
Does this mean we should stop striving or going beyond what we believe may be possible?
Absolutely not!
One of the most beautiful things about Yoga Asana (or physical yoga) is the way it unfolds. A dedicated practice has the power to transform the body and the relationship we have with it. Goals aren't bad, but having narrow minded ones that may not be founded in reality, can be frustrating and even dangerous.
What I am calling for here, is for us all to actually enjoy the practice and discover what is possible through keeping an open mind and bringing a more playful attitude to the mat.
We DO NOT need to reduce the inner workings of Yoga to mere items on our Spiritual checklist. We don't need to master a pose to prove that the practice is doing its job. In fact, it has been my experience that if the practice is really working, by the time you achieve that once sought after "Yoga Goal" you won't stop to high five the person beside you.
You may find, instead, that you're more interested in the process of transformation itself than in any particular milestone along the way. Even one that looks as cool as finally nailing Hanumanasana (side-splits).