I recently had a much younger yoga friend ask if I felt that it was OK to discuss yoga and intimacy.
I told her that I think our relation to ourself is our most intimate relationship.
She said, “Well, I meant, do you think yoga should be considered something that will help with an intimate relationship with the opposite sex?”
Oh, so now we were getting to the real question, I thought. I can say, without a doubt, that yoga has heightened and enhanced intimate relationships.
What do you think?
Presuming we are using the Yoga Sutras as a reference, knowing full well that one book alone does not comprise a complete system AND that an adherence to only one book is the foundation of dogma (“beware the man of only one book”)…
There are three relationships addressed; the one with self, the one with others, and the one with cosmos (universe/planet/environment). A relationship only with the self deprives a thirsty world of the light manifest through the inner work. A relationship only with others (without any inner work) is a hollow, transient existence, cording with others, sucking their energy.
If your friend is actually asking about sex then it’s an oddly round-about, though all too common way of getting to it. And my response there would be that yoga can help one to be more available in their living but it is not intended to improve your sex life any more than it is intended to reduce fat.
And again I wonder how many people distort the genesis of their “benefits” as being the result of yoga when perhaps they may just be the result of physical exercise and the subsequent effects on the body’s systems.
I think yoga helps people in all aspects of life. It provides the means to greater clarity, tranquility and happiness. So why then wouldn’t it help an individual’s ability for intimacy: whether with family, friends or significant others. If you’re happier with yourself, then you will naturally be a better human towards others.
I thoroughly agree with StudioLiveTV. Yoga (in my VERY limited experience) has made me love and understand myself, as well as “lifted the weight off my shoulders”. Since then, I have been a much more peaceful person to my significant other, and have been able to give so much more to the intimacy of our relationship. I don’t see why yoga can’t help improve your interaction with your partner, or with anybody for that matter.
I so agree that self love is so important. I was in an outdoor yoga teacher training last weekend in Coronado, CA and the instructor reminded us to gather love and then send it out to someone else. One of the reasons that yoga has been in my life for more than 30 years is because of the community of people that continues to inspire me. My practice reminds me to dwell in self love and also surround myself with that energy.
The same girl stopped me this morning and I directed her to this forum. I hope she stops by. I’m in awe of all of the wealth of knowledge here. ~ Namaste