Miss Walrus
The other day, as I was engaging in my usual morning ritual of an hour-long yoga sesh, the instructor started to talk about something I found rather compelling. Every time you practice yoga, she said, you have to be two things: Strong and sensitive. She explained that both ideas are equally important to being a successful yogi - you have to be strong to physically perform each pose, but also sensitive to your own body, surroundings & the new (amazing!) sensations that yoga provides you with. Without one or the other, you aren't getting the full benefit of the practice, she said.
This idea translates into almost all other aspects of life - especially relationships. When we're in a romantic relationship, we need to be strong (like, you know, not letting people walk all over us and/or decide what we're going to watch on TV every single night). But we also need to be sensitive & tune into our own & our partner's needs and desires. As my man Slug - frontman in the band Atmosphere - said, it's all about "trying to find a balance."
What do you think? Is one aspect - strength or sensitivity - more important than the other? Or do both ideas need to peacefully coexist in order for a relationship to work? Are there other factors at play, too?
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Comments (12)
Yoga flame!
I really liked this post.
I think you need both to maintain a relationship.
Love is like yoga: You have to twist and stretch things to get the most out of it.
I think a balance of both is best! If you have too much strength, then you would always want to "win" in a relationship and this will only cause more conflict. If you are too sensitive, then every little thing bothers you or "can get to" you, which is also unhealthy toward a relationship. Love is about giving and receiving; you have to be sensitive toward your partner's needs as well as have faith in your own principles. You need both flexibility and stability. In reality, love is more complicated than what's in the movies/dramas. However, love is a mysteriously wonderful feeling.
Both of those things are important..
But... is a person who does yoga seriously called a yogi??
For a peaceful relationship, there should be a peaceful coexistence of the two. If you're too strong, you'll be too forceful. If you're too sensitive, then you'll be too passive. You need to be in the middle, strong enough to understand when it's your turn to choose, but sensitive enough to know when the other should come first.
Everyone has different opinions about love. The Chakra Anahata, governs the energy of love and compassion, allowing you to express (or to not express) love. If one meditates on this, they might find their answer.
@cseman@xanga - Yoga fire!
@StarlitGoodbyes@xanga - Yes.
For sure, you have to let yourself be vulnerable in order to make things work.
@methodElevated@xanga - I'm glad someone got that!
so true.