How Yoga Supports Difficult Times

Hard times are inescapable. Yoga has always known this. Even the earliest codified texts of classical yoga philosophy, often dated to around 200 B.C.E.–200 C.E., address the obstacles that human beings face. Whether personal or communal, life includes inevitable suffering. A yogic approach to life, beyond the skills that posture and pranayama offer, supports our capacity to meet those moments with greater equanimity.

Yoga supports difficult times. This has proven true again and again across the course of my practice, which has spanned my entire adult life. Most recently, as my father neared death, my practice—now deeply embedded—helped keep me steady.

Yoga supports practitioners through difficulties by:

Training the mind. When the mind goes untrained, it compounds our suffering. We imagine and remember, we narrate and judge, we ruminate and project, we grasp and avoid, all of which reinforce an illusory reality that separates us from the present moment. In fear of the unknown, we hold fast to the familiarity of these constructions. Training the mind begets steadiness, and we become a surfer who stays on the board regardless of the waves.
Replacing old patterns. Eventually, yogic skill-building makes the precepts, practices, and philosophies of yoga stronger than unhelpful patterns. Patterns arise for a reason; at some point, even challenging patterns serve(d) a purpose. Yoga teaches skills for addressing issues from a place of responsiveness, rather than reactivity, and offers us a functional way to replace the patterns that no longer work.
Cultivating concentration. In an attention economy, sustained concentration can be a big ask, yet our attention is invaluable. Concentration is a focal point of practice that fosters stillness, presence, and freedom. We can fight against shutdown and numbing despite everything that makes life difficult.
Keeping us open. Practicing yoga can recreate a sense of inner safety, help to develop distress tolerance, and forges a way forward amidst what feels hardest. Yoga develops compassion, making us more open to love and life when we practice.