Wendy is a yoga teacher of teachers with decades of experience in the practice and teaching of yoga. One of her passions is the uncanny intersections where Western research validates the instructions for emotional regulation laid out in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Water is one of nature’s most powerful forces. It has the ability to generate electricity, wear down stone, and carve canyons over time. It flows freely, finding its way into places that solid matter cannot penetrate. Water can be a source of life, soothing, refreshing, and sustaining. Yet, it can also be fierce, unpredictable, and deadly. The paradox of water lies in its duality: it nurtures and destroys, it moves, and it rests, it is both gentle and unyielding. So are our emotions; we are not at their mercy, as Patanjali teaches in his Yoga Sutras.
Emotions: The inner ocean
Our emotions and subconscious are much like water, shaping the landscapes of our inner world. They can be wild, untamed, and even dangerous, capable of stirring up storms when left unchecked. Sometimes, an innocent moment can trigger deep undercurrents of emotion, revealing hidden fears or unresolved wounds. At the same time, emotions are also our source of creativity, passion, and connection. They are the reason we fall in love, marvel at the beauty of a sunset, and find meaning in both joy and sorrow.
The currents of our emotions drive our lives in ways we may not always recognize. They fuel our dreams and desires, shaping the reality we manifest. Like water, our emotions have the power to erode barriers, to purify, to flow toward whatever calls us. But without awareness, they can also sweep us away, carrying us into turmoil.
The yoga of emotional awareness
For the ardent yoga student, one of the most profound lessons is the awareness of emotions not as absolute truths but as transient waves upon the surface of our deeper being. Through dedicated practice, we learn that we are not our emotions. Rather, we are the ones who guide them, shape them, and ultimately rise above them. But first, we must make enough mental space and cultivate emotional awareness to separate ourselves from our emotions.
Yoga teaches us to become the observer of our emotions, rather than their captive. With awareness, self-study, and persistence, we develop the ability to create space between our thoughts and our sense of self. We cultivate compassion, allowing ourselves to feel without being overwhelmed. In this way, we become the leader, the teacher, the comforter of our own inner world.
2 techniques to remember when we know that we are being carried away by our feelings
Take 3 deep breaths in and out, on the inhale think “present”, say to yourself “moment” on the exhale. This helps anchor you in the present moment.
Breath practice: inhale 2 gigantic breaths when you cannot take in any more air; sip in just a little bit more; control the exhale to be gentle, slow, and long.
Choosing stillness
Just as water can be still and reflective, so too can we find moments of inner stillness amidst emotional turbulence. This does not mean suppressing or denying emotions but rather embracing them with wisdom. We learn to simply witness our thoughts without identifying with them, to acknowledge our emotions without being consumed by them.
By shifting our thoughts and feelings in constructive ways, we step into our personal power. We begin to align with the person we want to become, directing our emotional energy toward growth and transformation. In the stillness, we find clarity. In the stillness, we find ourselves.
Conclusion: Flow, adapt, transform
Like water, we are constantly evolving, shaped by our experiences, yet always in motion. By harnessing the power of awareness, we can navigate the ripples and undercurrents of our emotional landscape with grace. Whether we are in the midst of crashing waves or the quiet embrace of stillness, we have the ability to choose our course. And in that choice lies our true strength.
3 tips for cultivating this power of awareness
Focus on what you are feeling in your body right now, with zero judgement and no qualifiers e.g., I can feel the chair under me, I can feel the warm air on my face, I can feel the keyboard under my wrists vs. I can feel the hard wood chair underneath, the warm air on my face feels good (qualifier) etc.
Keep noticing every minute detail, e.g., the sensations in the right big toe, the socks against the skin of your feet.
Focus only on your breath to slow down the breath; repeat the thought on the inhale: “I am breathing in.” On the exhale, say, “I am breathing out.” This will automatically slow down the breath; a calmer breath automatically relaxes the nervous system
The EFT Emotional Freedom Technique of tapping pressure points on the face and body has been found to be effective for many.
Read more from Wendy S. Vigroux
Wendy S. Vigroux, Yoga Teacher of Teachers, Scholar
Wendy is a yoga teacher of teachers with decades of experience in the practice and teaching of yoga. One of her passions is the uncanny intersections where Western research validates the instructions for emotional regulation laid out in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Wendy's dedication to both the ancient wisdom of yoga and the modern scientific approach has earned her the loving label of "Yoga Geek."
