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The language of Stretching

Those attending my classes regularly are discovering that Holistic Stretching is not only concerned with physical strength or flexibility. Nor are the physical positions only intended to cure and prevent ‘dis-ease’.

Looking back over the years that I’ve been stretching, I can compare my experience with the process of learning a language. In the beginning there is great effort because the mind does not recognize the sounds being produced and often feels that it will not be able to deal with the process of understanding, and remembering them. When I was learning Greek, French and Dutch there were many times I felt inadequate and frustrated at not being able to express myself. Very often there were moments that I wanted to just to give up and go home!

Looking back over the years I laugh at those moments and realize how little physical effort it now costs me to speak the different languages (I let go of Greek!) and to play with the way I express something.

Feeling healthy, balanced and contented is to a large extent a choice

After years of stretching I am now physically and mentally much more flexible, not only in the classes or when I stretch, but also in the way I deal with situations in my life.

Stretching belongs to one of the 8 branches of Yoga called ‘asana’ and over the years it has given birth to many other systems of movement. The translation of the word Yoga means ‘unity’. Unity between what your mind wants and what your body needs; between your ideals and your actions; between what your heart is telling you and that of your mind. Unity on the physiological level, between the different organic, muscular and cellular functions; and most importantly, unity with your surroundings and with the relations that you have with other people.

Let us observe the way in which we live. How many of the above mentioned attributes remain ideals? Whilst we may all be in agreement with them, even dream about one day being able to integrate them into our lives, looking around at the world in which we all live, it is painfully clear that the way many people live is far from anything that can be described as ‘unity’.

Governments come and go; laws are passed or changed; pleas are made for compassion, understanding, tolerance, ‘brotherhood’ and love. The society of which we are all a part may become ‘restructured’, but if the minds of the people in that society are not changed, any restructuring will have at best a superficial effect and at worst no effect at all. This we have all seen happen countless times.

If your mind is easily disturbed or preoccupied with fears, insecurities, the need to compete with somebody, to be better than somebody; jealousy, greed, nationalism, hatred and the need to posses someone or something – then how can external changes make any lasting difference?

When I say that yoga is a way of life – I also mean that unity is a way of life (or ought to be!)

But what is stress? How does it occur?

If I reflect upon the moments that I have experienced stress in the past, I realize that it was conflict between what I dreamt about, my ideals and the confronting reality that caused stress, suffering, frustrations, anger to arise – which often led  to physical tensions that in turn became ‘dis-eases’. One of the aspects of putting yourself in physical positions, some of which are easy and some difficult, is that you become aware of what happens ‘between the ears’. What the condition of the mind is at the moment that difficulty is experienced and how you handle this.

Some people may choose to go and see a psychiatrist (wherein one conditioned mind analyses the other!), some people try to find peace of mind through sex, through drugs or alcohol, by dancing or playing music and many people do not want to become aware at all.

Emotional reactions to situations; to conflict with others that cause fear, anger, sadness, frustration, hatred or apathy (‘geen zinism’) – are all related to the balance (or imbalance) of the different energies (meridians) that flow through the body. The stretch exercises change and balance these energies – which in turn change the above emotions and the way that you feel about yourself.

Whilst stretching is for everybody – not everybody is ready for stretching.

I spent years of drugs, sex and  self abuse before I realized I was on the short road to an early death.

After doing my morning exercises each morning, I feel energetic, alert, happy to be alive and able to deal with the situations and with the people I encounter during my day.

Whilst the world outside often seems to me chaotic, full of tensions and intolerance, with a lack of love and compassion, I am able to create balance and harmony within. This is a process that I wish more people would experience. Then (perhaps) through the changed relationship with ourselves, we could influence the external environment around us.

David Lonsdale