We have an assumption in our society that tortures us. It is that we are broken and must be fixed, that we are fallen and must be saved – then we'll be ok, valuable and happy. A self help empire has been built on the belief that we are not ok as we are. Religious institutions have gotten rich because of this belief. It pervades the microcosms within our society and the yoga subculture is no exception. Subtle though it may be I have often felt threads of this way of thinking in many of the classes I've attended. And, I've heard myself speak variations of it in my own mind.

There have been times when I've burdened myself with the thought that I should really be able to perform an unsupported handstand as a teacher, or that a full bridge pose (backbend) shouldn't be so hard for me still. The underlying belief is that if only I could do these things, then I'd be ok. Through yoga I could fix my brokenness, repent my sins, and finally, be acceptable. I have wondered if this is the same for others. I need only spend a little time watching the desperate body language of students in classes across our nation to find my answer. I have seen people strain through headstands, with heads cocked and eyes bulging. I've known people who have chased the eternal golden carrot of perfect alignment for years believing that one day they'll get it right and be absolved of their suffering. What assumptions are driving this? It hurts my heart to think that anyone has been made to believe that this is what's necessary to reap the fruits of yoga. This is a call to ask ourselves as teachers and practitioners to what is at the heart of our practice. Can we begin to uncouple the assumption that if we get the techniques right that we will have value and find happiness?

Is it possible, instead, that our practices and classes could be built around our inherent goodness, perfection and value? Asana, then, becomes a chance to see ourselves from the perspective of the life in the body. We come to the moment from a different perspective than through our ideas of what ought to be. We begin to respect life in it's many forms as it expresses itself within and without. We experience the value of every feeling, sensation and state of being regardless of how it fits in with personal and cultural ideals. We begin to actually experience our desperate need to feel ok rather than bandaid these feelings (for a short time) by achieving the best asana or the deepest meditation. As we come to experience our inherent value through deep presence and acceptance we may still choose to lengthen our hamstrings or master headstand but these things are not longer associated with our value. Instead, they become functional activities that enhance our lives rather than determine our worth.

Yoga can be a vessel through which we come to understand that we are valuable rather than a way to earn value. I think of my alcoholic brother. It's a bloody long way from where he is to a daily yoga practice, perfect postural alignment and a purified colon. I refuse to believe he is less valuable a person than any super-yogi whose life has been defined by a different kind of addiction - that of perfecting the illusory sinful self.