Going Beyond the Doorway: Yoga’s Abundant Offerings – Tanya Riley
“There is just enough suffering to get you in the door,” writes Michael Stone in The Inner Tradition of Yoga, “so that is our starting point.” I love this viewpoint - it highlights the simple fact that some discomfort, be it mild or intense, is often what first propels to yoga. For some, it may be physical suffering, such as a sore back, tight shoulders or hips, and for others it could be discomfort on a mental level, such as anxiety, worry, or restlessness. You might have been drawn to yoga because of a major life shift, including changing relationships or illness. Whatever the reason may be, most of us come into the arms of yoga seeking some relief, and for the most part, yoga meets us exactly where we are at and then graciously offers us more.
I first came to yoga because I was finding my new job as a Montessori preschool teacher quite stressful. Days of trying to...