Harnessing Energy, Not Burning It

Our culture has the impression that a good workout leaves us tired. The sweatier and more exhausted we are afterward, the better we have done our job, we think. But the yogi's perspective of physical health and energy is different. A yogi seeks to understand, harness and even control his or her natural energy, not burn it off or expel it from the body.

One of my teachers likes to say that we should learn to "be an energy reservoir, not an energy sink." It is easy to push our bodies and minds to the point where we are expending energy in our physical practice. For me, it comes from years and years of being told to give "110%."

Another of my teachers says that each Posture should leave us feeling better, more relaxed and more energized than the one before. Our practice should harness and build energy, not burn and expel it. When we cultivate a practice that harnesses our body's energy, we grow in strength, willpower and confidence over time. We become more energetic than we ever thought possible.