Yoga: integrating both the beautiful & the ugly

We are delighted to introduce our guest blogger, Kathy Osborne:

Yoga: Integrating both the beautiful and the ugly! 

Twelve years ago I travelled alone to a Sri Lankan yoga retreat, Ulpotha, having had serious depression. I was understandably nervous and shy, and counting on this experience to give me a ‘new beginning’.

The local shaman took a shine to me bringing fresh bananas to my hut in the morning and chatting to me. One morning he greeted me saying that he had a vision in which I embodied a Hindu Goddess. He told me she was called ‘Kali’ and went on his way. When I asked my fellow guests I was met with giggles. Kali was no vision of beauty, but the Goddess of Destruction!

This upset me, I was ill prepared to meet my anger, and darkness, and counting on yoga to ‘take away’ my ‘bad’ feeling and give me a sense of ‘purity’.

Yoga, the ‘yoke’ joining body, mind and spirit can also reflect the multitude of Hindu gods yoked together as parts of us. Yoga can be a means of integrating both the beautiful, compassionate parts of myself and my angry, warlike parts, which are there for a good reason. I feel strongly when I see the advertisements in yoga magazines selling products offering purity and perfection. I celebrate imperfection and challenge you to do the same!

Following my time at Ulpotha, I trained in yoga, found the wonderful Special Yoga Centre, specialised in yoga for mental health and I am now studying Integrative Psychotherapy.

 


Kathy Osborne is a practising yoga therapist for mental health and special needs (IAYT), accredited yoga teacher (RYT500) and is also trained in performing arts. Kathy is a current finalist on Integrative Psychotherapy M.A. at the Minster Centre. For more information please email kiosborne@yahoo.com or view Kathy's classes at the Special Yoga Centre clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=3223