"I'm addicted to yoga"

By Randi Schiffman

I am addicted to Yoga,
To the experience of union
The way my body intelligently moves through space
The way my mind empties all of its contents
To peace
Tranquility
Clarity
Practice that purifies
Orgasmic experience
The "yoga high"
Breath embodied
Intimate relationship with the universe
Experiencing the microcosm of the macrocosm
Direct experience with life
Elemental awareness
Intentional time with myself
Opportunities to soften, surrender and let go
Realizations and epiphanies

I’m addicted to Yoga,
To lessons learned
Pockets of creativity released
Present moment
Connection
The way it makes me want to be better
Do better
Eat better
Live better
Helps me find grace
Acceptance
Shows me my judgemental mind
Honors and acknowledges all aspects of oneself
Directs and contains energy
Restores balance
Allows me to expand in one moment and contract in the next
The vibration of every cell in my body
Self observation and reflection


I’m addicted to Yoga,
To self inquiry
Mindfulness
Alignment and refinement
Heightened awareness
Relaxed wakefulness
Aliveness
Communion with Self
My romantic partner, my lover
Contentment
Allows for dissolving into nothingness
Body wisdom
Self Love and empowerment
Goddess embodied
Warmth and gentleness
Compassion
Illumined like all the rays of the sun
A Thousand petaled lotus

When I do yoga, I want more...I crave more, like a drug.  But, healthy addictions are still addictions and ultimately take me away from balance. My 90min practice quickly turns into a 4hr practice and all of a sudden I’m obsessive about the one thing that helped to balance me in the first place. Addictions are extremes and in any extreme, it’s not so sustainable long term. Where did I go wrong?

So if I can't practice my yoga one day, will everything fall apart? Will I be ok without this experience? When I am sick or tired and can’t move my body, do I lose this sense of Yoga? Do I become depressed and incapable of seeing clearly now? Does panic and anxiety fill my being? Hopefully not.

The Fourth Yama from The Yoga Sutras speaks about, Brahmacarya, or moderation. In fact, all the teachings of Yoga are about balance. The wild dance between our higher Self and our human nature. We must continue to comprehend that Yoga is everywhere; inside us, outside of us, and accessible in each moment and in each breath. It’s not a thing that we do, or are addicted to, but the way in which we live a healthier balanced life.

In terms of a balanced physical practice and to compliment the ancient teachings of The Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita, Mark Whitwell suggests we must “Practice actually, naturally and non-obsessively”

Swami Sivananda summed it up pretty well in this song, The Yoga of Synthesis:
Eat a little, drink a little,
Talk a little, sleep a little,
Mix a little, move a little,
Serve a little, rest a little,
Work a little, relax a little,
Study a little, Worship a little,
Do asanas a little, Pranayamas a little,
Reflect a little, meditate a little,
Do japa a little, do kirtan a little,
Write mantra a little, have satsanga a little,
Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize,
Be good, do good;
Be kind, Be compassionate,
Enquire, ‘Who Am I?’ Know the Self and be free.
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Take a moment, 3 conscious breaths perhaps and contemplate the things in your life you feel addicted to and don’t stop there. What actions can you take today on creating a more balanced life.

In gratitude of deep reflection,
Randi