Yoga and meditation bring out your inner truth

When people ask me why I do yoga, I tell them that it helps me to handle the stress that I experience in my day job. By far, that’s not the only reason, but it’s a big one, and until I can make a total shift from nine-to-five to yoga teacher/entrepreneur, yoga always plays a big role in that process, and it is definitely a catalyst for the welcome changes that are manifesting in my life.

Last night I was reading an article entitled “Help Wanted! If Unwelcome Changes at Work are Stressing You Out, Try Using Them as an Opportunity to Discover the Truth of Who You Really Are,” (Yoga Journal, May 2009), and I found myself relating to the experience of many who have, over the years, built their identities by what they do for a living. For those in high-powered, high-stress jobs, like lawyers or doctors, that’s what their lives are all about, and they know nothing else.  Then, a shock wave hits and they’re either laid off or are suddenly faced with a terminal illness and they have to come to grips with who and what they really are. And it’s really hard for some of those people to understand when they’ve been so conditioned to base their total identities on their occupations, their resumes, their accomplishments and yes, their failures. Their lives are mired in stress, and they don’t believe, or don’t want to believe, there’s any way out. Even the thought of taking a leisure vacation is out of the question.

The article features the story of litigation lawyer, Carol Urzi, who worked in a large San Francisco law firm. She was working 24/7 and managing 50 cases on her trial calendar. Needless to say, she centered her life around her work.  She “enjoyed the intensity, the feeling of triumph over difficulties, and the recognition from others for being the highest biller,” says Carol.  Then, she was suddenly laid off and, while she felt shocked and angry (how could this happen to me??) she embraced yoga and teamed up with a law clerk who had been practicing Zen Buddism meditation for many years.  She could never understand how this person always remained so centered, so quietly in control of his life amid the stress and chaos of the law firm they both worked at.

While recovering from her powerlessness and anger from being laid off, her yoga practice helped her to find new meaning in her life.  Ten years after being laid off, she has the flexibility to pursue studies and interests she was never able to focus on before when she worked around the clock.  She does pro bono legal work, is involved in local politics, and she even travels.  She has finally found her true self from yoga and meditation, and she no longer identifies herself with her work, but who she has become, inside, as a whole person.

We must all learn to bend with the ups and downs of life and expect that they will change at any moment. By cultivating a regular yoga and/or meditation practice, you will achieve patience and compassion for others and, at the same time, accept the uncertainties of life and learn how not to panic when a curve ball gets thrown at you. You will also feel calmer and be able to handle problems more effectively as they manifest in your life, be they job changes, relationships or health issues.

Yoga is a powerful remedy, and it has the power to change lives.