Final Journal Write-Up

As I reflect on my semester-long experiences of yoga, I find that it has caused me to make new impressions, observations, and feelings about the practice. Although I was unable to be present in an authentic physical yoga environment or meet the people who frequent the classes and make up the yoga community in my area, I was able to be a part of the yogic environment created by my professor and the various yoga instructors who mediated the practices through technology. This modality of instruction was sufficient for someone like me, as a beginner, to learn yoga. Almost every instructor had their own way of producing an environment that was conducive to a restorative yoga practice. For instance, Amita and David held their sessions inside of their yoga studios, while Jenn taught from inside of her home but in a space filled with natural light and plants spread around the room. Each of them also demonstrated the practice while they were teaching. As a viewer and student on the opposite side of the camera, eventually, I could identify the difference in ambiance that contributed to the overall practice, when compared to instruction from Diane, for example, who only gave direction verbally from her living room couch. 

When it comes to my personal practice space, it is one that has created the opportunity for a ritual experience. At the start of the course, my practice space was made up of a scented candle on my dresser and a blanket on my bedroom floor. Overtime I have added components to my yoga space like a yoga mat, calming tunes, and decorations like a tie-dye tapestry and a mini LED light waterfall. All of which contributes to the degree of focus and relaxation that takes place while I practice yoga. Practicing yoga by myself, in my own personal space has made me realize that doing so, adds a sense of freedom into my practice. Since there is no one physically practicing with me, I don’t have a reason to feel intimidated or challenged by others who are more experienced than I am. The ability to learn yoga at my own pace with the luxury of making mistakes and modifying asanas throughout my learning curve without fear of judgement is what has ultimately made my practice space one that is sacred.

This ritual experience can be analyzed based on the article by Nevrin, as he describes a ritual as something that directs the practitioner's focus toward phenomenality of the body. The nature of my practice impacts my experience because of the way my focus on proprioception intensifies during the practice. Once I find myself in the flow of the session, I feel centered and mindful of my current position in the world. Mindfulness is what aids in feeling my body and the movements taking place, which allows me to experience particular feelings that I can only undergo through practice. Afterwards, I am able to make the most of my practice at the levels that Nervin explained, in more depth. He also explained that the more often one practices, the deeper they find themselves in sustained flow. As I progress with my ritual practices, I am confident I can eventually reach sustained flow, if I stay consistent. 

In the U.S. yoga is framed as more than an exercise. Yoga can help manage stress, relieve back pain, and increase balance and flexibility. It is due to this, that being present at my practice space while doing yoga can empower me in various ways. The act of yoga leads to a state of empowerment as I gain strength, flexibility, and confidence in performing the postures that I learn. For this reason, I would choose a yoga session over a run on the treadmill or a pilates class when seeking empowerment because in yoga, empowerment is infinite. There will always be something new for me to master in yoga, whether it be new asanas or the act of meditation. When it comes to the activities that are primarily framed for the purpose of exercise, empowerment can be exhibited but not for long until you have mastered running a particular number of miles or bench pressing a certain amount of weight, for instance. Following this goal that has been reached, we naturally set a new one, most likely in a different category of exercise. With the administration yoga, there are many different aspects to be visited that can last us a lifetime. 

Differing from that topic, my practice space doesn’t necessarily promote a sense of community other than the classmates who make up our yoga community via ZOOM, which I very much feel a part of. Fortunately, we are all able to practice together from our own homes, thanks to technology. The community that we make up is one that comes together for a common practice. If we were able to practice together in a studio, it would contribute to the sense of community as we would all come together, with our yoga gear, to breathe and sweat and build strength and relieve stress, together, all in one room. From the stance of Smith, there is a distinct feeling of community that takes place when actions of this kind are practiced amongst a group of people, religiously. 

On the other hand, yoga is seen as a healing practice. My practice space contributes to the healing aspect of yoga starting with the sacredness of my bedroom, which is my sanctuary. Here, I feel safe to do and feel as I please, at any point in time. I can be as quiet or noisy as I'd like. Feeling calm and comfortable is a good way to begin the process of healing. This way I am able to concentrate on my body and the instructions being given. Simply having the ability to concentrate is what kick starts the process of my yogic healing. During practice, the instructor reminds us of our breath and the way in which particular postures are aiding in the healing process. They refer to this process in different aspects, such as a release of tension in the particular body part being stretched, the relaxation of our muscles during an exhale, or the extraction of impurities from our production of sweat. 

Healing is also communicated to me as part of the class practice in a spiritual manner. Sometimes there are mantras spoken at the end of a yoga session. After the physical healing of the body through practice, chanting helps to connect the mind and body to a higher power in a way that substantiates the healing that just took place. Once the practice of yoga is complete, I can feel the difference in my body and my psyche. My body feels lighter and I find myself in a state of zen. The transition into this state has become a good way for me to begin my day, and also to end it. The physical and mental tensions that I may have built up before practice, melt away. Afterwards, I can start on a clean slate with a clear mind, and a body that feels resilient and capable of taking on the day ahead or the day thereafter, if I practice at nighttime. 

 The origin of yoga can no longer be identified in the West because of the non-traditional form of yoga that is now accepted and performed. Yoga began with the primary purpose of connecting to a higher power. Channeling that higher power through particular actions or lack thereof (austerities) were combined with mantras and rituals used for yogis to serve as a vessel for the deity worshipped. Over time there has been a transition from this traditional culture, to counter culture, and now to pop culture. Yoga is present on various platforms. Entertainment through movies, commercials and television showcase yoga, and through the sales market in numerous other forms. When yoga is referenced in the media or used for advertisements, there is no sense of being informed. At this point, Americans are expected to know what yoga is, but from the western standpoint. . 

    The religious connotation in yoga has been lost and traded with a physical fitness fad that consists of other components that make up this new definition of yoga. Western culture has established yoga as pop culture through various modalities. Yogic fashion statements are emphasized through "yoga pants" and other yoga gear like high-end mats and fancy water bottles. Body image is important to westerners, causing them to use yoga as a go to for the maintenance of their physique. The demand for stress management has also been geared toward yoga. It is in these ways that yoga has been affected in the West, establishing it as a pop cultural lifestyle.  

Furthermore, it is in my practice space that yoga is used as a form of meditation. This consists of obtaining a sense of mindfulness. I try my best to keep my mind from wandering and solely focus on the task that my body is performing. I keep particular senses in mind, such as the mat under my feet, while standing in my practice space. Additionally, the patterns of breathing that take place during my yoga practices play a role in upkeeping mindfulness and also adds to the following meditative outcome.  

In my opinion, meditation is a beneficial transformative technique to incorporate into yoga practice. This helps to alleviate stress by creating a quiet space that allows you to get out of your head. For a while, your world is still, and with meditation alone, or with the inclusion of asanas, you are guided to the center of yourself. Here, it is calm and safe. This is what personally drives me to continue my practice of yoga with the incorporation of meditation. Nonetheless, the practice of meditation alone is important for me to learn in the long run. This way I can reach this capacity of stillness whenever or wherever I go without the incorporation of asanas. 

Moreover, in yoga, the role of the body is to execute postures or asanas that are meant to stretch and strengthen the body. In the case of physicality, the body is also used to secrete impurities (sweat) that are present while in motion of yoga. Moreover, the body is approached as a vessel that experiences the physical and mental features which take place throughout the practice. This approach stands, in the case of spirituality, as the body is a vehicle for an experience of the divine. Mediation and/or tantra practices tend to be the modality of this experience. These practices allow individuals to release from within. The weight lifted, as a result, gives individuals the ability to look further inside themselves or to connect to a divine spirit in which they believe to serve. 

Comparatively, the origins of yoga are taught as a spiritual practice, in which a deity is worshipped and austerities are performed to serve them. Modernized yoga focuses on spirituality but more so in terms of acknowledging our personal mental and physical state. Making an effort to keep our existence positive and upkeeping a good quality of life by way of yoga is how spirituality in practice is taught today. In my personal practice space, spirituality is defined as the connection between myself and the world, which I express through manifestation, positive affirmations, and putting out into the world what I would like back. All in all, recognizing that my presence on earth has purpose, and therefore striving to find that purpose in order to live my lifetime to the fullest, is the way in which I express my definition of spirituality. 

Through my physical practices of yoga I have learned more about introspection. Along with this, I have been trained to consciously quiet my mind. Having been introduced to the mechanisms that provide a gateway to this state of peace, I now feel prepared to cope with the unexpectancies of life that bring me far outside of my mind. Taking this course has succeeded in fulfilling the spiritual curiosity that I have had the desire to feed for quite some time now. The level of depth in which yoga and spirituality were discussed has provided me with an abundance of knowledge that I will apply to life from here on out.