Crying while Yoga ’ing – The beginning of Liberation

Ever unexpectedly cry while taking a yoga class? I have. Several times. Probably more than I’d like to admit. I never knew repressed emotions were stored within the body until I was introduced to Yoga a few years ago. Hip, chest, chronic back pain, headaches, stiff shoulders are only few examples of how excess emotional baggage can manifest.                              

Crying on the mat was a huge surprise the first time it happened to me. Especially, after taking every possible tactic to run far away from my emotions. Training for a half-marathon when I was fifty pounds overweight and never running more than a mile in my life was a huge attempt to run away from grief. Though I accomplished it, I literally ran my booty off and took a beating to my knees.  Nonetheless, yoga showed me a different way. It showed me a tender way. It taught me to run towards myself and face what I was going through in order to get through it.

Holding a challenging pose forced me to surrender to the unknown. Focusing on the breath and connecting it with the body kept my mind on that moment, subconsciously touching an area I had never deeply studied before. Me! I realized my mind has a tendency to live out yesterday’s mistakes, and focuses on tomorrow’s what if’s. I allowed my thoughts to live everywhere, but ‘The Now’ and it was driving me mad.

Yoga is the beginning of Liberation, though it took a few tears on the mat to see that 😉

Namaste,

Azil Rose

*Practicing yoga can be an emotional release for those suffering from trauma related matters. Movement and crying are a natural part of releasing blocked emotions and encouraged by this Yoga teacher with a stamp of love*