Yin Yoga to Practice Non-Reactivity - Emphasis on Hips and Shoulders

One of the more common questions I'm asked is about translating yoga practice to relationships. Yeah, you may feel great after your practice, but what about when you go back to a partner, a friend, a family member, a co-worker or someone you just don't seem to get along with?  One of the keys to understanding this is knowing our basic human nature is to avoid discomfort and seek comfort. To avoid pain and to seek pleasure. One of the biggest obstacles to working through these challenges with others is that our default inclination is to avoid the conflict, the disagreement, the hurt, the anger and all that goes along with talking about feelings and making compromises in relationships.  Part of our yoga practice is learning to interrupt that default survival mechanism of avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. Instead, we lean into uncomfortable postures. We maintain steady, relaxed breathing in otherwise difficult situations. We get to notice the impulse to avoid, to distract, to overthink and protect and have a space where we can practice letting the armor down. As we find the ability to breathe easily in a contracted posture, we know what it feels like to be able to breathe easily in a tense conversation - the feelings are almost identical.  Today in your yin practice, keep this in mind. Your practice is first for yourself, yet ultimately for others. As you become able to be with yourself in all situations, you become able to be with others in all situations.   - For updates, join the Quietmind Yoga newsletter at http://www.quietmind.yoga