Do you strain yourself in your yoga practice?

Are you experiencing strain, tension, or clenching in certain parts of your body during your yoga practice? This could be a significant reason why you're not reaping the benefits of your practice and may even be putting yourself at risk for injury in the long run.

Many of these habits may have originated from the culture of exertion found in gym workouts, where pushing yourself to the limit and tensing your muscles is often seen as the norm. However, yoga requires a different approach—one that emphasizes mindful movement and relaxation.

In yoga philosophy, there is a concept known as "effortless effort," which encourages practitioners to find a balance between exertion and ease. In practical terms, this means finding relaxation even in challenging poses and avoiding unnecessary tension.

When performing yoga poses, it's crucial to cultivate a balance between activity and passivity, exertion and relaxation. This involves allowing the body to be active without gripping the muscles and keeping the mind relaxed and attentive.

By becoming a witness to our actions rather than letting the ego take control, we can avoid overexertion and the risk of injury. Observing where we're applying unnecessary muscular tension and whether our movements feel rigid or forced can help us adjust our practice to promote greater ease and safety.