Yin, Yang, and Yoga
Yin <—> Yang
Darkness <—> Light
Contraction <—> Expansion
Self <—> Other
Tension <—> Release
Dichotomies are pairs of opposites perpetually dancing around a state of equilibrium. Light and dark cannot exist without each other; without their counterpart, neither has definition.
Our human existence is a constant experience of relationships, dichotomies, and balance. By definition, dichotomies are extremes of existence, and either of those extremes will feel dissonant. We feel it when we’re out of balance, out of step, in discord. Our bodies, minds, and souls crave the moment when dissonance becomes harmonized.
For example, yin and yang are energies that exist in a balance within us - too much yin makes us feel cold, sluggish, heavy, depressed; too much yang makes us feel airy, overheated, frenetic, anxious. Contraction and expansion have their uses, but neither is an optimal state of being; we need to find the center point in order to feel balanced and grounded.
Music offers a perfect experience of this embodied feeling: there’s a tension created with dissonant notes and chords - the body feels this dissonance and there’s a deep sense of relief or even bliss when the dissonance is resolved into harmony - we experience the beauty of that release viscerally.
The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj or “yoke” - as in, linking together, combining, bridging the gap. It is often translated as “union”. Yoga is the practice of harmonizing the dissonant - turning counterparts into partners - seeking the gray between the black and white. Yoga is the process of seeking the balance that makes us feel connected and alive. Through steady practice, we connect mind, body, emotions, and spirit; and resonate within this world as autonomous individuals integrated into our communities.
In your practice this week, feel for the dissonance in your system (physical, mental, or emotional) and seek harmony. Don’t stress about achieving harmony - just allow yourself to engage in the practice of it!
How have you experienced discord and harmony in your life or your practice? Share in the comments!