The Yoga of Integrity

Integrity is largely applicable to our relationships with others. We rarely think of integrity when we ponder how we relate to ourselves.

Loosely defined, integrity means truth that only you know; it means being truthful to others even when you could totally get away with lying since only you know the truth. It can become very difficult to lie to yourself.

It’s true that the power of denial is huge; we can deny almost anything we want to deny, but it requires us to bury the truth deep inside. It can stay buried for years, even decades, and causes us to become divided beings; eventually, we fail to ever feel completeness of the self.

Burying the truth, any truth, no matter how benign, forces us to disconnect the conscious from the subconscious. We divide ourselves into two beings: the truth teller and liar, and a type of cold war begins between our two half selves. To end this war, we must start being truthful to ourselves.

An exercise in integrity….

We need not get into a deep, philosophical project here; your home yoga practice provides an easier option-so find a good spot that allows you some privacy and step onto your yoga mat. Before you start moving into your poses, set your mind in the same mode you would use when talking to someone else.

When you talk to someone else, you apply all manner of civility; you think carefully about how you will say things, how you will describe their actions in order to be supportive and to avoid being insulting. Show the same compassion and understanding to yourself.

As you acknowledge yourself moving into and holding a yoga pose, keep your approach less emotional and more analytical.

Instead of saying “this is where I always screw it up...” or “this is where I start to suck at it…” say, “this is where I start to lose balance…” this is where it starts to hurt…”

Then examine your position analytically instead of judgmentally; look at yourself and determine where your feet are, which way your toes are pointing, the position of your shoulders, etc.

Hold it right there and then say: “this is where I start to observe what I’m doing instead of judging myself”

Think in terms of “now, if I move my left foot this way…what happens?” Make mental notes on what is happening physically, and don’t use the pose to try to determine what kind of person you are. Trust that you are OK being who you are, and just focus on the movement and how it makes you feel.

The more you practice this way, the less judgmental you’ll be, while becoming whole again.