How Yoga Can Heal Your Body

A recent NY Times article, entitled “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body”, ignited a fire in the international yoga community. And with good reason: William Broad’s commentary is slanderous, and based more in perception, than fact.

Like many yoga instructors, I was extremely disturbed by the irresponsible reporting in the article. The title of the article alone is outrageous. Yoga does not “wreck” our bodies. Just like any other physical pursuit, we wreck our bodies with yoga when we value competition and ego, more than awareness and good intention, on our mat. We can also heal our bodies through yoga, when we embrace the nurturing opportunities of this ancient practice.

My personal journey with yoga began in 1998. Since then (and in stark contrast to Mr. Broad's experience), the art, science and philosophy of yoga have led me to a better life than I ever imagined, and have been my greatest medicine. In the earliest years of my practice, yoga helped heal my body, after a serious car crash that left me with more than a dozen broken bones. Since then, daily practice has helped me cure migraine headaches, insomnia, thyroid disease, and chronic sinus infections. It has also revealed tremendous strength, and deepened my relationship with God. I have watched countless students heal their bodies, and reclaim their power, in my classes. From my perspective, as both student and teacher, yoga is the ultimate platform for personal transformation.

To understand the true purpose of yoga, it is important to note that it was created thousands of years ago, and was never intended to be competitive or aggressive. The original purpose of yoga was to help prepare the body and mind for long periods of meditation, to improve overall health, and to increase longevity. It is a powerful tradition that is accessible to everyone, and can be used in a variety of ways. Because it is a rich practice that is widely open for interpretation, what we receive from yoga is directly correlated to personal intention. If you come to yoga class in search of a sweaty workout, or to show everyone how flexible you are, then that is what you will leave with, and nothing more. Conversely, if you meet your mat with a curious mind, and an open heart, you will learn, incrementally, how to use yoga to create healing, and equanimity, in your life. This, to me, is the promise of yoga, and what brings me back to my mat each day.

Of course, the physical benefits of yoga are undeniable. Regular asana practice will tone your body, and strengthen your core. But body sculpting is not the point. Yoga is so much MORE. The word yoga means “union”, and refers to the uniting of the mind, body and soul. Yoga, in its truest form, is a tool that dissolves the emotional and physical barriers--layers and layers of harm, internalized over a lifetime--that prevent us from realizing our greatest potential. Practiced regularly, yoga balances our body chemistry, reconnects us with our innate joy, and leads us to authentic happiness in life. The asanas (poses) are just part of the process, as is breathing intentionally, quieting the mind, and staying in the moment.

Yoga students (and we are all students, even if we teach) must be vigilant, mentally and physically, to prevent injury. They must seek to understand proper alignment in the poses, and remember that graceful transitions are just as important as the poses. As long as students practice with a teachable heart, good intention, body awareness, and an attitude of ahimsa (non-harming of themselves and others), they are "doing it right", regardless of what their poses look like.

And for the record, the only yoga injury I have ever had, after 13 years of practice, occurred when my ego got the best of me, and I moved into the splits without warming up, and without awareness. It was my fault, and I knew better. I never once blamed it on yoga, and I never will.

As yogis, we must constantly reconcile our asana practice with our intuition, to heal our bodies and prevent injury. In his article, Mr. Broad completely missed the point that, like everything else we do repetitively (standing, running, and typing, for example), there is always a risk of hurting ourselves. Conscientious yoga instructors remind students of this repeatedly. When you examine yoga in it’s totality, and the intention behind it (the union of mind, body and spirit), it is clear that we must embrace internal guidance, more than the suggestions of an instructor. As teachers, we open doors to new possibilities, but the students always cross the thresholds on their own, in their own unique time.

So, if you read Mr. Broad’s article, and are still open to exploring yoga, read Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and learn to embrace the "yamas" and "niyamas" on your mat. Stay open to the comprehensive value of the practice. Over time, you will learn to stop worrying about what your practice looks like, and what everyone else thinks about it, and focus on HOW IT FEELS. This is the essence of yoga, and nothing in my life has ever served me more than its practice.

Amber Barry is a certified yoga instructor, wellness coach, motivational speaker, public school advocate and founder of Come On, Get Healthy! She lives in Atlanta, GA, with her husband and three daughters, and shares her adventures in wellness on the Come On, Get Healthy! Facebook page (like us!).

Full Circle on New Year's Resolutions

The new year is here! Have you made a resolution yet? For many years I dreaded that question. It made me feel pressured to publicly commit to stop doing something I enjoyed, or to start doing something I didn't want to do, usually in the name of greater health. I never felt confident in my declarations that I would "work out more often", "eat better", or "drink more water". I set myself up for failure, time and again, by striving for perfection. It ultimately did more harm than good, and diminished my self-esteem.

After many years of never quite living up to my resolutions, I hit a breaking point in 2004, and resolved to stop making resolutions. It was the right decision, at the right time. Our first child was six months old, and I was a good way into my second pregnancy. When I wasn't feeding my newborn, I was teaching seven yoga classes a week, unpacking from our recent move, and fighting morning sickness. It was overwhelming, to say the least. So I stopped making resolutions, and it was a relief.

Even without the pressure of living up to new year resolutions, life got more hectic soon after I resolved to not resolve. We had two more children in the next three years. By the time our third child arrived, I was drowning in diapers, bottles, and burp cloths. I was still teaching yoga several times a week, but I rarely found time for a personal practice. Parenthood was more work than I expected, and like most new parents, I did little for myself in those days.

I realize now that, during those "baby years", I unintentionally surrendered my individuality to the demands of parenthood. My life was totally out of balance, and I struggled to align my needs with my family responsibilities. I rarely had time to myself, and when I did, I used it to check items off my "to do list". Instead of taking a yoga class, or meeting a friend for coffee (as my husband often suggested) I would go grocery shopping, fold laundry, or organize the house.

I soon realized that the old adage is true: all work and no play makes for an unfulfilling life. By December 31, 2009, I was worn out! Something had to give. Although I thought I was done with new year's resolutions for good, I knew I had to make a commitment to find better balance in the year ahead.

After a lot of soul-searching and contemplation, in December 2009, I made my first new year's resolution in five years...but this time it was different. Instead of resolving to remove bad habits from my life, I made a commitment to add value to my life, by pursusing my passions. I resolved to write, paint, and learn how to play guitar. It was difficult at first, but I slowly learned to carve time into my day for creative pursuits. I set myself up for success by committing to "be creative" for at least thirty minutes every day, and gave myself grace on the days it just couldn't happen. It was a small daily commitment, that added value over time, and brought my life into greater balance over the course of the year.

My plan worked, and 2010 was a much better year for all of us. By adding creativity to my list of priorities, I discovered new ways to connect with my family. I bought canvases and paint for my kids, and encouraged them to create their own masterpieces, while I worked on several paintings for my husband's office. I learned how to play Taylor Swift songs on the guitar, and my girls would joyfully sing along, while I picked out the chords. I started writing three different novels, and I hope to finish them someday. Even if they never see a bookshelf, though, I grew a lot in the process.

Resolving to pursue my passions was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. It taught me to commit to enjoying the journey, instead of focusing on the destination. I learned to set smaller, achievable long-term goals. Little by little, I learned to live with greater passion and authenticity.

It was a powerful revelation, and I wanted to continue the trend in 2011. So, just about this time last year, I again resolved to add value to my life, but this time the focus was on wellness. I wanted to feel great when I turned 40 in May, so I committed to explore new opportunities for greater health in 2011. I challenged myself to master difficult yoga poses that I had previously feared. My kids and I both giggled as I practiced my handstands and balance poses, anywhere and everywhere. I learned to love meditation, reduced my sugar intake, and increased my intake of nutrient-rich foods. Yoga workshops fueled my practice. A vegetarian retreat with Meredith Klein of Pranaful inspired me to experiment with "power foods" and "macro cooking", and I finally met and practiced with one of the yogis who first inspired me to meet my mat in 1998, Steve Ross of Maha Yoga. It was another successful resolution, and 2011 might have been my healthiest year ever.

So now, on January 1, 2012, my attitude towards new year's resolutions has come full-circle. I no longer resent the inquiries about my new year's resolutions, and I am encouraged by new possibilities for the year ahead. I am hopeful for 2012, and I know that, no matter what I resolve, it will add balance and joy to my life.

If you are already inspired by the resolutions you have set for 2012, I hope they lead you to a more joyful life. If, like me, you haven't quite settled on a specific resolution, take time to create an achievable commitment or two. Focus on resolutions that empower you to incrementally pursue your passions, and live with greater authenticity. When we replace pursuit of perfection, with exploration of untapped opportunities for growth, life comes into greater balance, and we can finally live our best life.