There can be a lot of instruction when we take a yoga posture. Checking the alignment of your knee, or if your shoulders are shrugging up to your ears for example. While alignment instruction is important in some case to keep the body safe, it can also cause us to hold on or to tighten too much.
This is where the idea of ‘softening the edges of the posture’ comes in. The idea is, take the instruction into account, understand it but then soften the edges, let go a little. That’s when the energy can flow, and we feel lighter in the pose.
This is instead of forcing the posture, holding tight and being too fixated on getting it right.
We can still be in a strong and powerful posture, but we are easing into it.
I love to consider the ideas we learn in yoga and how they can be transferred to living your life off the mat.
We can consider this idea with many aspects of our lives. For the purpose of this post, let’s think about eating healthily, for example. It’s important to know the facts about what to eat and why. But if we become too focussed or fixated on it, most of us know that isn’t healthy and defeats the original intention. However, if we approach it from a ‘softening the edges’ perspective, then we would still see the value of healthy eating and embody what we learn but then let go a little and not be so fixated on it.
It’s not to say that we suddenly turn to a diet of processed foods ( we can still be in that powerful posture, remember) but we let go and be more gentle on ourselves.
And many of us also know that is usually a more healthy approach.
I know in the world of parenting there are many areas where we could soften a little. Screen time, sugar intake, bedtime routines to name a couple. Perhaps in your career or work you could let go just a bit? Or maybe there’s a part of your persona that you have become to identify with, can you soften that too?
Let’s now go back to our bodies for a moment to experience softening the edges. Stay where you are- sitting upright or standing, this won’t take long. Close your eyes and notice how you feel. Can you soften your jaw? Allow your neck and shoulders to let go? Now, extend your arms out wide as if you were going to fly. Reach in the opposite direction from your shoulders to your finger tips. Notice the nerves in your arms as you lengthen. You’re using strength here to hold your arms out. Lengthen your spine, space in your lower back. Bring the front ribs in a little. Notice your breath, keep lengthening and feel strong in this position. Now, see if you can soften the edges. Just let go a fraction. You are still in the same physical position I asked you to take, but energetically, can you feel at little more at ease? Powerful, but less restricted?
Where in your life can you ‘soften the edges’?
Thank you so much for reading.
Here are some ways we can connect.
- Yoga weekend in Yamba this July 1st, 2nd, 3rd. This now full! Please let me know if you’re keen for one this year and I will see if we can make it happen
- Join me online in my member area for some gentle guided asana, yin yoga and breathwork. You can try free for 14 days.
- I am (occasionally!) on instagram and resolving to post more often.
Soften the edges