T E N S I O N ⁣
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Intentional tension ⁣
Necessary tension ⁣
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Tension is not your enemy, or a dark villain that needs to be run off into the shadows. 👤⁣
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Tension is literally what’s holding you together. Without the tension play between your tendons, muscles, bones and joints, your physical form would collapse into a useless pile of bones. 🦴 ⁣
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Your bones don’t move into their paired joints on their own. There is no “socket” without tension. There is no potential for motor patterns without tension. 🤾🏼‍♀️⁣
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Tension in your tissues make it possible to react, respond, locomote, pull, push, crouch, and leap. 🤸🏼‍♂️⁣
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We tend to vilify the word tension in the yoga landscape, as if it’s something to be avoided or burned away through tapas. 🔥 ⁣
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I suspect what we’re seeking is the elimination *unnecessary* tension - of the body, mind and emotional layers of our being. 😌⁣
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Tension isn’t your enemy. Be careful of wishing it away. It’s there for a reason. You are a biotensegrity system, and if you want to feel more resilient and present in your body, use tension as your ally to build more strength and resiliency. 🌟⁣
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If you think you will lose flexibility by strengthening, remember that strength and flexibility are NOT opposites. Strong muscles are better at their jobs. The job of a muscle? To contract, to move bones, and manage loads. 💪🏼 ⁣
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Prioritize function over aesthetics; appropriate sensation over depth of position. If this resonates with you, I’m stoked. If you’re confused and aren’t following this dialogue, come to one of my upcoming virtual teacher workshops. I’ll keep you posted on the date. ⁣