The Mystic, the Athlete, and the Engineer

You might have thought I was going to launch into a joke here 🙂…something with these characters meeting at a bar.

But instead, I have a question?

After 20 years of teaching yoga, I’ve noticed that people attend my yoga classes for different reasons, each desiring something a little different from the multilayered practice of yoga.

So I’ve named these personas and would love to know Which one resonates with you the most….the Mystic, the Athlete, or the Engineer?

The Engineer is a bit of a body-nerd and interested in precision and the structural alignment of each yoga posture. S(he) enjoys executing the yoga shapes with careful attention to detail and relaxes into the well-defined “rules” of each pose. With a degree in Kinesiology (the study of human movement), I believe the alignment principles and biomechanical components help ensure greater safety in yoga and facilitate balance in the body. There is value in this focus for everyone, but especially those new to yoga or anyone managing an injury or imbalance (e.g. extra tightness)

So without question, the Engineer is wide awake in me and at the helm of every yoga sequence I create and class I teach.

Ah…the Athletes…you know who you are. You show up for class ready for action and come to get in shape and tone up without bulking up. You can’t wait for me to turn up the music and stop talking about alignment and philosophy. You desire more core strengthening and longer sequences of flowing poses, so you can burn energy and get your sweat on.

There is no question that we need to challenge our bodies regularly. Building strength, creating mobility, and maintaining balance are essential for a healthy, upright, forward-moving life, so why not get these needs met in yoga…right?

It’s true that the Athlete lives within me…but this is not the reason I was drawn to yoga.

I attended my first yoga class to heal my overworked body from excessive trail running, cycling, white water kayaking, downhill skiing…and more. In fact, as a restorative yoga fan, I was quite opinionated about active vinyasa classes and thought it was Westerners’ workout-focused version of yoga stripped of the deeper, juicier aspects of the practice that I love.

Over the last 20 years, my love affair with active yoga has grown. I now appreciate the benefits of incorporating yoga conditioning elements into all of my classes to correct imbalances created by our mostly inactive daily lives.

Mystics come to yoga to feel uplifted, inspired and connected to the deeper parts of themselves. They are curious about mindfulness and the philosophical concepts of yoga. They appreciate when the physical practice is infused with quotes, stories, music, and themes and look forward to a long, extended Savasana (final resting pose) at the end of class.

My inner Mystic is the one who draws me back to the yoga mat again and again. Yoga has become a place for me to cultivate a more vibrant inner landscape. It is where I notice my thought patterns and create some distance from the crazy voice in my head. And it invites me to tap into the calm, patient, knowing parts of myself and gain perspective on life. My yoga practice is now a home for me to check-in and regularly tend to my psycho-emotional wellbeing.

It is the Mystic in me that curates music playlists to amplify the experience on the mat.  She is the one that burns Palo Santo before class begins and peppers the movement practice with inspirational quotes and reminders to connect with the breath.  She knows that we all need to be uplifted, inspired, and connected to our inner world.

We are all multi-faceted human beings with shifting needs and desires from moment to moment. So within me each and every one of these personas exist. Maybe that is the case for you too.

And the practice of yoga is designed to unite the different parts of you…the mind, the body, and the soul.

For this reason, I strive to offer something fulfilling for the Mystic, the Athlete, and the Engineer in every Align & Flow class I teach. Occasionally, I get into the nuts and bolts of a pose and class becomes a bit “workshop-y”, but most often the practices are well-rounded and include a blend of precise alignment; deliberate, thoughtful sequencing; and nuggets of love and inspiration.

It is my hope that at the end of each class, you step off the mat feeling open in body and heart.

So now…your big questions (if you currently practice yoga):

Which persona first encouraged you to step on the yoga mat? And which persona is now the driving force that brings you back again and again? Shoot me a message. I’d love to know.

love,

Tener

ps. If you are yoga curious, but can’t seem to make it to your first class, let me know how I can help you unroll your mat.  I’d love to support you in taking your first step into this rich practice.

Photo by Rawan Yasser on Unsplash

Photo by Mathilde Langevin on Unsplash

“When you build new habits, you are creating a new life.” ~ Yung Pueblo