Emotions

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello,

I have been practising yoga on and off since I was a child, and in the past year decided to commit myself more to daily practice and started having private lessons which I really enjoy and I really feel like I have learned a lot from them. I have experienced a lot of unexpected results, many good. I expected to gain more serenity and balance but instead I seem to have awakened a lot of emotions and turmoil. Discussions with my yoga instructor lead me to believe this is not unusual. I would be interested to hear other people’s thoughts on this. I am wondering if I have become more emotional or if I am just more aware of the emotions that were already there? Has anyone else experienced this or have any insight on this?

Thanks for reading.

#2

It’s a common statement to hear, as if the asana rings the latent emotion out, I’ve witnessed firsthand many uncontrollable bouts of spontaneously sadness, tears of joy, laughed etc. during/after an asana session, emotions are hardwired evolutionary programing, no doubt serving a purpose to the human condition, similarly meditation may release many subconscious experiences in the beginning.

#3

Yoga makes you more aware and sensitive to even little changes happen in body or in mind.

Instead of interpreting these changes (positive or negative) just continue to be aware in neutral state. The moment you sense them in negative or positive , you miss the great opportunity of being aware…

This is the point of failure and success both entirely based on the level of awareness you have…

#4

I had a similar experience when going through the teacher training program. Many emotions and feeling seemed to be unlocked both sadness and joy. I found that once I welcomed the feeling and let them flow I found a sense of peace and I truly feel I am able to deal with every day life in a more positive way.

“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
― Epictetus

#5

There is that which remains latent in the human organism (I’ve not used “body” on purpose). In some cases, that which is latent can be brought forth to be looked at, addressed, processed, and released.

Since a complete yoga practice is a practice of evolving it can be very effective at bubbling things up. It can also be used to aggrandize the ego and hide, but then that isn’t true yoga and certainly isn’t the topic here.

#6

Yoga practice is not a narcotic to pacify a troubled mind, it awakens you to what you truly are, and to what you are suppressing.
If anyone wants to “bliss out”, they should take ecstasy.