Interesting waves are being made in the yoga world. As yoga"s impact continues to reach the lives of even more people than ever before, so does the reach of business media outlets targeting customers of yoga items. An overwhelming variety of yoga specialists-- and thus, yoga customers-- are women, which has actually caused routine conversations about body image in the yoga community. But when yoga based corporations place themselves into these already heated discussions, controversy seems destined to develop.
Recently, the magazine Yoga Journal was the topic of such controversy after a disappointing attempt at covering the yoga/body image concern. The dispute began with YJ’s publication of a multi-page article entitled "Love Your Curves" that embraced a fashion-magazine-like design and offered guidance on selecting the very best attire to flatter particular body types (pear-shaped, apple-shaped, and so on). Instead of "loving your curves," the ramification suggested that readers must rather, change or conceal their curves, and purchase particular items to make their body type look "much better." The reaction created by this post revealed a variety of readers" responses, many of which were along the lines of-- to put it bluntly--"WTF!?”
The responses to the article are reasonable. To publish posts that reach readers at such a shallow level while dancing along the line of body shaming is disheartening to say the least. The responses to the piece however, make it clear that YJ’s readers are insightful adequate to know that, though the body is a vital gamer in this thing we call "yoga," it is important to launch the concept of a perfect "yoga body" and welcome the lots of layers of our being. To do otherwise might potentially tread into the territory of self-objectification, and for numerous people-- defeat the function of our practice totally.
So, as the dust from this controversy settles, the question that continues to be for everyone is, "How do we welcome, live within and honor our bodes while releasing accessories to them looking (or occasionally feeling) a particular means?" Generally, how do we browse the paradox of being spiritual beings in physical bodies?
If we wish to get the "genuine" answer to this concern, we have to return to some older (and possibly, wiser) yogic texts. In the Upanishads, one of the earliest known texts on spiritual living, it is recommended that our being is made of a system of five layers called the koshas. The koshas supply a map planned to lead our awareness inward from the outer physical layers (Annamaya kosha) to our energetic and mental layers (Pranamaya and Manamaya koshas), all the way to the most subtle and blissful layers of our being (Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya koshas).
Practicing yoga with an awareness and understanding of the koshas permits us to go deeper into the different layers that comprise our being. Putting awareness on one layer, we can access another layer of enhanced or decreased subtlety. For instance, we use breath (by means of pranayama) to calm the mind, which also alters the energy vibrations within the body. Another example could be experienced throughout an asana practice: As we move the physical body, we create consistency in our spirit.
So, though YJ’s article informed readers to embrace their physical bodies, it doinged this from context. At any time a kosha, or one layer of our being, is separated and objectified (like the media often finishes with physical bodies), we fail to see the full picture of who we are. Whenever we study yoga for simply physical factors (e.g., to drop weight or to construct leaner muscles), we risk restricting our understanding of how broad the breadth of our practice can reach.
As spiritual beings, this is the dance we get to dance. How can we utilize our body to end up being more intimate with our spirit? How can we grow spiritually and embody this development in the real world? Will having leaner muscles allow us to grow in self-love and hence offer love to the world from a more authentic place? Or will it lead to an unhealthy accessory to looking a specific means or fitting into a certain pant size?
The concerns that yoga asks us do not had black and white responses. All we can do is practice with embodied awareness (that is, awareness that exists on all 5 layers) and find out to browse this paradox with intense dedication and a light-hearted stride.
Yoga, Body Image and Lessons from the Koshas
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