Acceptance

Acceptance is relaxing, however learning to accept when things are not as we would like is not easy.

Acceptance is a practice we work on in Yin Yoga when we give up resistance. Acceptance doesn’t mean we can’t try to change things. You only need to accept the past and the moment that you’re in. You can however change the next moment.

Yoga and meditation offer the space and opportunity to watch and listen. We can observe how our state impacts others and where we need to soften and accept. When we accept the way things are, when we let things be as they are and give them space the answers come. This is the gift of meditation, being here in the one moment.

As well as accepting situations or circumstances, we can also think about acceptance on the physical level and what our bodies are capable of. I attended a recent workshop on Yin Yoga were we looked at Paul Grilley’s photo’s of bones. (Below) When you see the huge variance in the shape of our bones it is very clear why yoga poses look different for everyone.

This is where yoga is important, it is not about body image but about embodiment and how we can be more authentically at home in ourselves. Through yoga we can feel more comfortable inside out, rather than outside in this has a lot to do with acceptance as we understand our own limitations. Some parts of our body we can work on, others we just need to accept.

Check out these images of bones below: (Images courtesy of Paul Grilley website https://paulgrilley.com/bone-photos/)

Hip socket – look at the difference in these two left hip sockets

The socket of the left specimen is pointed forward and down. The socket of the right specimen pointed sideways and nearly horizontal. You can see how different a pose with external rotation is going to look for these two people.

Left specimen could easily clasp hands behind the back. The acromion of the right specimen would block this movement.

The inclination of the neck is 40 degrees different. The ability to abduct would be 40 degrees different.

Originally five bones fused in the womb. Different ratios of length to width due to the shape of bones.

I find these pictures fascinating, I hope you do to. Next time you’re in yoga class don’t compare yourself to anyone else they may have a completely different bone structure to you.

Huge thank you to Paul Grilley for sharing this information and photos and educating others. Images courtesy of Paul Grilley website https://paulgrilley.com/bone-photos/