Lock down, the savior or the executioner?

Earlier last month, the 21st of April was my 12th anniversary as a “permanent resident” in South Africa.

During our 5 weeks in lockdown, I have been reflecting not only on the current chaos, or rather paralysis, the world is in, but I have also been reflecting on these past 12 years. 

They have been the most evolving years of my life, on so many levels. Even if it felt like we were going to semi-retire when we moved here, it was going to be far from it. Life on a farm, no matter what you do, is a lot of work and adding a guest house and winery to the lifestyle, you are likely to work more than ever. Funnily, that is not how it feels when you are in it. Fair enough, as a lifestyle it is not work as we define ”work” but it is in a different way.

Which is actually how yoga ended up for me as well. Initially, as you might know, I did not intend to share my practice of yoga at all. I intended to deepen my own knowledge, but it turned out to be, not only the time and space from where I got to breathe, but also a lifestyle and a social hub. 

Yoga, as I interpret it, will always be a way of life. Even if it is almost 2 years since I stopped teaching scheduled sessions, I am still ”doing” yoga. The asanas, postures, are necessary for me to remain mobile, physically strong and flexible and my pranayama practice, the breathing, is that daily moment of focus, that settles my scattered mind either for a morning meditation or a peaceful moment before going to bed. In times like these, when people around the world are dying because they can not breathe, not even on a ventilator, I appreciate this precious practice even more. 

In our sixth week of lockdown I assume you all have created some routine to your day, not to lose your mind, track of time or your temper. I have a daily routine, but it is not so different from the one I have established since long. The difference these last weeks, is that I really stick to it as it really helps me with with anxiety and worries as well. So I am adding that as a great benefit to this involuntary imprisonment. 

I have intentionally refrained from engaging too much in the current situation and try to keep my interest on a ” need to know” basis. The amount of advice, opinions, speculation and reactions from each and everyone, self-appointed specialists, is utterly overwhelming. Equally consuming and confusing are the many newsletters, many of which I have unsubscribed to. At least for now. As yoga is all of a sudden more “accessible”, there is no excuse not to practice. It is available anytime, in various formats, for downloads, YouTube, Zoom, all ”in the comfort of your own home”. No matter what.

As I am not competitive by nature, this excessive accessibility is not attractive to me. On the contrary, I feel like I do not have a choice, like I am trapped and will have to perform. Do you understand what I am aiming at? At the same time it is mind-blowing what opportunities the digital platform is able to offer! And the enthusiasm from studios, teachers and masters of all trades offer their skills and time, for free (often). This for sure also needs to be added to the benefits in these unrestful times. But over the last couple of years I sense a hidden, unspoken pressure to do yoga more rigorously than ever, as a trend, rather than with good intentions. Obviously, the growth on the yoga scene excites me and is tremendously good, as it will sort itself out, but there is a flipside to every coin. In all these offers it appears to me that there is an expectation that one is supposed to show a result. Which is where, I believe, the entire reason to do yoga is lost. Yoga is not about a result, the cliche ”Yoga is not about reaching your toes but what happens on the way down” says just that. 

On the other hand, if the interest in a ”result” gives you the chance to experience it and start a yoga journey, who I am to judge? I do not! With all my heart I encourage you to pursue it. Yoga is the outstandingly best journey you can ever embark on. And maybe this is just the right time for you to do so. 

I hope that you are all in good health, safe and able to survive this, as it too shall pass. 

Namaste, Marie