Throughout time, stories have been used to explain our individual and collective experiences.
Stories are appealing to all ages, races, and belief systems. Cultural practices and beliefs are passed down through stories and memorialized in elaborate traditions from holidays to blockbuster movies. In fact, on of my favorite yoga stories to teach during asana practice and especially in kids yoga classes I was first introduced to through a childhood movie (and here I date myself...)
In the 1995 adaptation of the 1905 children's story "A Little Princess" the opening scene stole my imagination with vivid colors and wild storytelling. It wasn't until 20+ years later that I learned the whole story of the Indian epic Ramayana and how it related to my yoga practice. The warrior, the battles, the great animal helpers are all told through yoga asana poses. Even if you have never heard the story, you may just be embodying Rama's struggle to win an epic battle over evil and a 10 headed demon while doing yoga at your nearest yoga studio in middle america.
Summary: Understanding the mythological stories and regional contexts of yoga poses and practice can deepen your understanding of the practice of yoga and help deepen your personal yoga practice.
The universality of stories lies in the human truths woven through characters, settings, and struggles to which we can all relate. Comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell in "The Power of Myth" explains that the stories that have been collectively in the mind of the people for eons connect us to the relevance of our own life and gives us perspective;
“These bits of information from ancient times, which have to do with the themes that have supported human life, built civilizations, and informed religions over the millennia , have to do with deep inner problems, inner mysteries, inner thresholds of passage, and if you don’t know what the guide-signs are along the way, you have to work it out yourself."
Telling stories within, throughout, or at the end of you yoga classes during relaxation (śavasana) is an effective way to teach abstract concepts and tie together the themes of your practice. By illustrating the concept in story format, our minds more easily connect, relate, and respond to the theme being taught as it was experienced in our physical practice. Following the storytelling allows the listeners to contemplate about how placing themselves as the hero of the story of their own life. We are all more likely to adjust behaviors and emotions, even our phyisical shape in a yoga pose when we can identify them with the innate qualities of vibrant and imagninative characters that perhaps we don't see ourselves as yet.
Using stories as a yoga teacher also opens up the class to multiple sensory experiences as well as learning styles. You can describe objects within the story that are tactile, imitate sounds to match the action, evoke memories of smells and even tastes from the setting, as well as empathy and connection to characters. The multi-sensory meditative experience connected to the intention, theme, or asana in the yoga practice integrates more aspects of mind/body/spirit. Additionaly, the integration of fiction has been touted by psychologists from many regions to have a direct correlation to increased empathy
Stories, especially fictional ones, have been proven to create more empathy in individuals as well as develop deeper self-insight. Introducing the mythology of asana as well in a longer format gives practitioners the social-emotional-spirtual correlation experience every time thereafter they practice the pose related to the story.
In our quest to become better yoga teachers, practitioners and finally define "what makes a good yoga teacher?" - we may consider giving all aspects of our practice a deeper contextual rooting through regional mythologies. Ask yourself as you teach and practice how much you feel and know about a yoga pose and why it is called Hanumanāsana (Hanuman's leap) or which Warrior you are embodying in Virabhadrāsana (Virtuous Hero pose).
Explore more how to use mythologies in meditation and yoga story telling this summer in Complete Yoga Training's "In-Depth Yoga Experience" 10- day retreat on beautiful North Shore O'ahu.
Sign up now to reserve your spot- Registration closes June 20th, 2024.
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