Yoga is defined as the union of mind, body, and spirit. We all have experienced the bliss and sanctuary the tool set of yoga provides us each personally. Some of us may have the fortunate blessing of being able to share our yoga experience and discipline with someone we are close to; perhaps a spouse, family member, or friend. When we share our mat experiences it takes us to another level of relationship and common experience. This experience may be one you can laugh about later on or one set on a daily/weekly basis and you look forward to its coming.
Relationship is often referred to as the ultimate spiritual practice: nowhere else can you you see your own beauty and challenges reflected more ac irately than its eyes of another you care for. What is the reward? An experience of greater joy and fulfillment than can ever be experienced alone. God made us for community! The union, connection and intensification that relationships provided give our life meaning and purpose—whether with a child, parent, friend or in passionate communion with your spouse.
The power of touch is lodged in our brains and bodies early. When we are held and coddled as infants, we make happy sounds. The power of touch does not go away as we age; rather, touch proves we are part of a family, a group, or a people. We live in shattered, fragmented times, rife with disconnection and isolation. Most of us are in deep physical, emotional ,and spiritual need of the healing balm of relationship; with God, a spouse, friend, sibling, mother/father, and/or child. We all know, at some level, that relationships are the base from which an extraordinary life of connection and happiness is built. Yet, in today’s modern world, life is often moving so fast the our relationships are missing the depth we crave and deserve.
Touch has great power and it is known healthy touch is something humans need. Our skin is the largest sensory receptor on our body, so when someone touches us and the touch is not violent, sexual, scary, or threatening, most normally-adjusted people will experience it as a positive connection with another. Can you imagine combining the gift of yoga with someone you love? Imagine the power of union that emerges from stepping outside of your own experience and connecting deeply with your yoga partner as you expand and transform together. You would literally support each other as you both expand awareness through the union of mind, body and spirit. When we break out of solitary practice, we are able to attain a new level in our own yoga and in the relationship before us. Practicing yoga with a loved one will create a new foundation; one rooted in the ability to be totally present, trusting, loving, and dynamic.
I believe there are seven gifts to be had when practicing yoga with a person we have a relationship with. We learn to trust by overcoming fear and experience safety. We can experience passion though the challenge of surrender and the gift of joy. We understand commitment through the challenge of struggle and the gift of freedom. We experience love through the challenge of vulnerability and the gift of intimacy. We have better communication as the result of truth learned through the challenge of honesty. We create vision through the challenges of our illusions and experience clarity. Finally, we have deeper union because of the challenges our ego provides and gift of grace.
Each of these gifts or points of contact are dependent on one other and will create a stronger tie that binds you both together. Without trust, passion can lead you to betrayal; without passion, commitment is an obligation; without commitment, love doesn’t have the protection it needs to deepen; without love, communication can be hurtful; without communication, there is no shared vision; and without all of these, union is incomplete.
What is also interesting is each of these gifts or points of contact are active within each other. For example, communication is necessary for trust to form, for love to deepen and for commitments to be clarified. Love enhances passion and invites trust. Vision supports commitment and unites partners in a common goal. The more you transcend your ego and allow yourself to flow into union, the more each of these points of contact will be enhanced.
When you practice together it is important to:
- Seek to see eye-to-eye with your partner. Lock your gazes together in total concentration. This helps you to stay focused and enables trust to form.
- Don’t be afraid to be seen. Allow yourself to come out of hiding and let your eyes be the windows to the soul.
- Find the beauty in your yoga poses together.
- Reflect beauty back to your partner. Express what you see. Tell him how strong they are or how radiant their face is.
- Begin with the end in mind. Make each pose a work of art, an expression of vision, and an offering to God.
- If you lose contact with yourself, close your eyes and go back inside. Slowly open them again, bringing forth what you find within. Let your inner witness see yourself and your partner at the same time.
Truly. Madly. Deeply. Do yoga….together.
Onward and upward of course…..
Happy connecting & Happy Valentine’s Day!
