Lately there has been a backlash against yoga instructors who pose themselves in inhumanly strong/flexible poses. The outrage is due to the perceived notion that they make everything look effortless – as if they were born with the ability to put their feet behind their head. (Well, that is technically true for most of us – don’t you see babies with their feet in their mouths like it’s nothing?) Some feel that it sets up unrealistic expectations for what people can actually do from yoga, plus it glamorizes these asanas in a commercial way without understanding the foundation.
People these days take offense to too much.
Personally, when I see them, I think it’s great. I know that I can’t do most of those things (yet) and it probably isn’t within reach for some time, but I can try. I also know that while, yes, some people are genetically gifted with mobile joints and superman strength, these people still had to work to where they get and they just want to share a brief moment of their success. Let us live vicariously through their accomplishments and not berate them for what they do.
For those just starting out in yoga, as long as you come in knowing that you are probably starting somewhere near ground zero, that the road ahead won’t be easy, and that you’re going to fall a lot, then also come in knowing that you’re also taking a first step towards body awareness, possibly building strength and flexibility, and maybe making a friend or two.
[Sitting in my draft folder since 12/5/2015.]Photo taken at Aerial Artique doing Aerial Silks. Backbends don’t come naturally to me at all. I have a pretty weak back so active backbends have been challenging for me. It took some time to learn how to do them correctly and now I can backbends without feeling like I’m just smashing my vertebrae together.
