Day 4

date: 9/22/2016
time: 6:30
instructor: Laurie Green
style: Flow Plus

I don't feel, at least in this class, like yoga is framed as more than just exercise. In this class, specifically, it feels like a workout. I am pushing my body to the brink of its limits to fit into postures and positions that are beneficial to my strength. In fact, I think Laurie specifically talked about gaining strength from this class. In Steevee's class she'll go on small spiels about how this position can be calming or how that position opens chakras but Laurie doesn't insert moral-of-the-stories into her practice like that, which in a way may be better in that it allows the practitioners to come to their views about their practice and positions on their own, if at all. In general too, I think Americans look at yoga as almost strictly physical. Almost every time I talk to someone about yoga they respond with something along the lines of "I'd like to do yoga but I'm not flexible enough" (a sentiment expressed by my brother not even 15 minutes before I started writing this post, as a result of me telling him I was about to write this post). Nobody, in the handful of years I've been casually practicing, has ever said that they're not spiritual enough or open-minded enough or mindful enough or disciplined enough to practice yoga. The focus is physical. "I can't do a handstand" "I can't do splits" "I can't put my foot behind my head" "I can hardly touch my toes". I, of course, tell every negative nelly that "hey, that's just what yoga is for, becoming flexible!" which of course perpetuates the idea that yoga is a purely physical experience, but it also leaves people feeling more capable of partaking in yoga practice. I think the American approach is just the same as Nick Rosens approach. Very few Americans turn to yoga to work on their spirituality or their mental health or any of the various "other" aspects of yoga, but a majority of those who turn to yoga for a good weekly (and maybe even daily eventually) workout wind up stumbling into the other benefits of yoga, pleasantly surprised more often than not.

side note: I just saw the prompts in the syllabus, so I'll start using them now!