Listen To Your Body. No Not Like That!

Listen to your body. No, not like that!

It’s common advice in yoga and a nice idea, but it comes with no instruction on how to actually listen to your body. Most people ignore their body, and their gut instinct, instead catering to cultural vanities without realizing it. Maybe it’s self expression, maybe it’s the patriarchy. If you use the listen to your body cue, follow it up with how to actually do it. This might include, but is not limited to asking, What would a sustainable version of this pose look and feel like for you? Can you breathe in this yoga pose? Does it feel like one area is doing the whole pose - how might you distribute your effort more evenly throughout your body? Is the stretch so intense it’s distracting or taking your breath away?

It can be tricky and off putting to some - to use the word patriarchy. But that’s exactly what it is. You might see phrases like, self-improvement, diet culture or #fitspo used to describe the issue, but those words hint at a larger system (aka patriarchy) at work. A system that imposes masculine/ feminine character stereotypes in society which strengthen the atrocious power relations between the gender binary. This keeps us busy trying to prove we are worthy through our physical appearance, which also keeps us $pending. It harms anyone who doesn’t fit the white, thin, heteronormative, capitalistic, male ideal. And that’s a lot of people. For a quick pop culture example, watch Taylor Swift’s music video, The Man.

We’re not going to solve the world's problems in a 60 minute yoga class, but we can absolutely make a difference by naming it and unlearning it so we don’t perpetuate the harmful messaging that pervades society.

Maybe it’s self-improvement, maybe it’s the patriarchy. Here’s 12 ways you can make your yoga classes more inclusive, inviting and interesting.

Start noticing.

Step one: start noticing everything. Patriarchy is like glitter, it gets all over everything. We’re all immersed in the social systems, institutions, customs and learned behaviors around us which means we’re all capable of perpetuating patriarchy and passing off some really screwed up things as just the way it is. But it’s not the way it is, it’s man made. Literally. Start with your own social media. Who is represented and how? Who’s not represented? Do you know the main message of the pages you follow? Unfollow anyone who makes you feel like shit for being you. Then go follow people and hashtags that represent a diverse, inclusive yoga/fitness narrative that is different from what you are used to seeing.

Teach people how to not fight their body.

People fight their body every day. Teach people how not to fight it. What does that look like in a real life class? Sometimes we have to UNLEARN things. It starts with language. All of the suggestions in this list in one way or another involve language since it is our main way of communicating and teaching in a yoga studio. Take stock of what you’re saying in your classes, check your own negative self-talk and see what doesn’t need to be said.

Invite everyone into the pose.

Be an advocate for those who show up to your classes. Don’t park people in childs pose to give them an out just because you’re doing something challenging that only part of the class can fully execute. BREAK. IT. DOWN. Peak pose, but make it all the way, every way accessible. Build on ramps and exit ramps. Ways for people to get into and out of the pose when and how they want. In my world this includes teaching unapologetically with props. If there’s a yoga block, there’s a way.

Promote personal agency.

Self advocacy is a powerful tool we can offer ourselves and each other. Sense of agency is defined as the sense of oneself as the agent of one's own actions. This also allows oneself to feel distinct from others, and contributes to the subjective phenomenon of self-consciousness. Sprinkle that -ish everywhere. At the very least, begin and end with this. What’s that sound like in a class? Ex: “Start in a position that’s comfortable for you.” Hone in on the experiences of the people coming to your class. Ask them what they want, what they like, what they don’t like about yoga. You may be surprised by their answers. Adjust course.

Be inclusive.

Fitness does not have a look. Thinness and fitness are not the same thing. Physical appearance does not equal self worth. Though, through the lens of patriarchy they do. It’s thin, young and white. We humans are designed to move. Every. Body. People work out for different reasons. It’s not just about losing weight.

Cue with open ended questions and dialogue.

Rather than calling out poses like a distant square dance caller, have a conversation with the people in your class. What’s it like if you reach your arm overhead in this pose? Can you lift through your back body in warrior three? When you twist, notice when your body stops, you’re there. This means letting go of man-made alignment rules that are based on the right/wrong visual aesthetics. Are you cueing alignment down to every metatarsal? Less fixing. Less curating. If this is news to you, there is a wealth of info on the web about this. Learn about internal and external cues. Continue to grow and revise. For you too, dear reader, it doesn’t have to all get done today. Pick 1-2 things from this list that are the easiest to implement. Praxis. Educate yourself and be open to growth.

Remind people they don’t have to suffer for the yoga to work.

It doesn’t have to hit you over the head to be effective. Movement autonomy. Teach people how not to overextend themselves by using movement to explore and create boundaries. It’s common to offer deeper, more advanced options of poses, because more is the capitalist way. A cue I love to say is, this is an option, not a dare. People get it as soon as you say it and there’s always a laugh. It says, the pressure is off! Use it. You can subvert that by inviting people to find their physical edge and saying, if you already feel plenty of stretch in this position then you’re there, you don’t have to take it any deeper. Remind people they don’t have to get it all done today. Consistency, not intensity is what leads us to moving and feeling better. Speak Up-Not Down-To Students.⠀

How DO YOU listen to your body? _________

Remind people they are capable, strong and enough.

In fitness and yoga land, patriarchy sounds like people being told what they need to fix about themselves: their weight, their alignment, their speed, their flexibility and the list goes on. How lovely would it sound to be doing vinyasa yoga and hear that you are capable and strong, and doing enough. Sounds obvious, but it is not said out loud near enough. Be that voice. People actually need empathy and reassurance that physical appearance does not define self worth.

Tell people when something is hard.

Say the real shit. People will thank you for it. When something is hard, say so. Naming the hard thing is honest and being honest is caring. It helps everyone have reasonable expectations for a challenging movement on the mat. It gives people some perspective. It also let’s the class know they are in it together. When I’m teaching a challenging balance pose I’ll say, if it falls apart, just put it back together.

Yoga is not green juice.

Yoga asana can’t possibly provide everything your body needs and it shouldn’t have to. Yoga was not meant to be your cardio, your strength training and your mindfulness all wrapped into one. The patriarchy has us all busy and tired, that’s the savage, capitalist way, but you don’t have to contribute to that cycle in your class. Slow down. Let yoga be yoga. Remember that yoga is a whole codified system created in India. Consider the effects of reducing it to a workout.

Remind people they have permission to just be. As is.

Messy, tired, tight, sad, unfocused. Whatever it is, let them show up without having to fix or change a dog dang thing. Yoga and exercise do not happen in a vacuum. The world is a scary hellscape; of course it follows people into the yoga studio/gym and onto the mat. Create an environment where people feel welcome to be themselves and not apologize for being tired.

Dear reader, you too don’t have to get it all done today. Use your energy wisely so you’re fresh for the long game. Sit with these ideas for a spell. Then when the time is right, pick 1-3 things from the list that you connect with and can easily implement into your classes. This list is by no means complete or exhaustive. While writing it, I was reminded that patriarchy is a messy thing to unpack, because it’s connected to so many other issues: ageism, racism, homophobia to name but a few.

What do you think? Does anything in this list stand out as relatable or helpful? Or does the list bring up any frustrations you have about patriarchy in yoga or fitness? Hit reply and let me know.

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