Yoga is Like a Compound Microscope

I’m a Biology major, so science tends to integrate into my life more than the average person.

A microscope magnifies the characteristics of living and nonliving specimens so they can be better observed. It is often used with microscopic organisms. However, that is not always the case. We can also observe specimens that can be seen with the naked eye, such as an onion peel or a leaf. We use the objective lens to delve deeper: focus on the essence of the specimen, identify its components to better understand how it functions, and discover what we cannot easily see with our limited vision.

Yoga is very much like a microscope. We humans are not microscopic specimens. We are living and breathing organisms that interact, influence, and are influenced by the world around us. When we come to yoga and settle on our mat, we place ourselves on a slide, opening our hearts and minds to observation and awareness for greater vision. When we turn on the light of the microscope, we illuminate ourselves so that we can observe what we experience in our practice and the world.

We relax and settle ourselves on the stage. It’s not a show for others to view but brings our attention inward so we can attune to ourselves. Through pranayama, the breathwork, we secure ourselves to our space with stage clips. We invite noticing: the depth of our breath, the sensations of our body, and the busyness of our mind. We shift the course adjustment to where we are right now on the stage. It allows us to focus the mind, bringing attention to the details of what we are experiencing physically, emotionally, and mentally.

As we engage in the asanas of our practice, we maneuver the fine adjustment. We experience movement and response, becoming aware of details and knowledge about ourselves. We adjust our practice to make it work for us using our inner yoga voice, the microscopic light that shines from within.

It is not until the end of our practice that we settle into a period of relaxing, a moment to surrender to our discovery and experience. It is the Savasana of our practice that invites connection with the world due to our greater understanding of our inner self, the true specimen.

Yoga truly is like a compound microscope. It is not a simple process of understanding that can be discovered in one practice. It is a journey of realization through multiple observations and a variety of experiences to understand the whole being. By taking time to observe, learn, and inquire within and out, we begin to understand the individual and how it influences and is influenced by the world.

Let us not go through life satisfied with a magnifying glass or a simple microscope. These instruments provide crucial feedback but not the complexity of the individual. Let us open our minds and hearts to a compound microscope that allows us to focus on degrees and layers of understanding. We don’t have to find the complete answers or have total comprehension in the moment. Just as science is a journey of learning and discovery, yoga can lead you on that journey to discover your true essence.

Discover what yoga can bring you:

https://connectionsyogava.wixsite.com/yoga.