On the surface this seems like a simple question. Strength can be easily identified as our ability to engage our muscles and hold intensity over time. When we use our strength intelligently we create a sense of stability which resonates throughout the body enabling us to hold poses longer and find balance and steadiness.

However, so we often find ourselves and our practice frustratingly unpredictable, experiencing that what we could do yesterday, we may not be able to do today. Occasionally too, we are able to do something we had never thought possible. Even as we acquire more strength, stability is a moving target.

This fundamental inconsistency is because like the world around us, our bodies and minds change from day to day and moment to moment. Each time we step onto the mat we are working with an entirely new set of circumstances; a new emotional landscape; differing amounts of rest; a body that may feel more or less supple; different nutrients etc, each practice sets the stage for an entirely new set of experiences. When we consider it, we may realize that we are a mystery to ourselves.

So, what’s the point?

Yoga philosophy does not discount the benefits of a strong and stable body and it recognizes the value of willpower and resilience, but yoga philosophy tells us there’s a more profound source of strength and stability within us. This is the ability to focus and concentrate. The ability to control our mind is the single most powerful tool we have. At it’s essence, Yoga is not about doing the poses well, Yoga is the practice, of paying attention and our body is simply the tool we use.

So, next time you fall out of a pose, pause and remind yourself: “everything changes.”

And next time you hold a pose, pause and remind yourself : “everything changes.”

This is why it’s called a practice!

-Written by Jen Kentrup

We want to thank everyone who explored their own strength and stability last Saturday in Jen’s Yoga for Strength and Stability workshop! Please enjoy a couple photos from the workshop below, and find her classes (as well as other incredible Vinyasa classes) at 9:30am Downtown on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays!

Sign up for class!