The Great Way Isn’t Hard - Unless You’re Holding On
“The Great Way isn’t hard for those who have no preferences.”
– 3rd Chinese Patriarch
We spend a lot of time trying to figure out who we are. We piece together identities like intricate mosaics - carefully selecting the roles, routines, and relationships that make us feel solid. Safe. Real. And once we’ve built that masterpiece? We guard it like our lives depend on it.
But here’s the truth: who you think you are isn’t fixed. It never was.
Welcome to the paradox of the human condition. We long for growth, change, and freedom - and yet we cling. To our stories. Our habits. Our morning coffee, our overachieving schedules, our endless scrolling. These addictions (yes, even the ones society applauds) aren’t flaws; they’re signs. Clues that our creativity has been boxed in by the very identity we’re trying so hard to uphold.
The thing is, your body is already a masterpiece. A living, breathing chemical factory designed to produce energy, joy, and clarity - no external fix needed. But when we rely on sugar, caffeine, or constant stimulation, we send our body a different message: You’re not enough on your own. Over time, we lose touch with the natural rhythms and resources within us.
That’s where yoga comes in.
Yoga isn’t just about movement. It’s not about flexibility or fancy poses or perfect playlists. Yoga is a remembering. A reset. A way to tap back into the intelligence of your body - the original pharmacy. Each pose is like a switch, turning systems back on and reminding you that vitality doesn’t come from outside.
Forward bends? They nourish your reproductive system.
Backbends? They awaken your thymus gland and immune strength.
Twists? Detox powerhouses for your liver and pancreas.
Shoulderstands? They stimulate your thyroid, regulating energy and mood.
This practice isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about letting go of everything you’re not. It’s about releasing the layers that keep you small, stagnant, and stuck. You don’t have to fix yourself - you just have to stop holding on so tightly.
So here’s the invitation:
Drop the labels.
Skip the storyline.
Get on your mat, breathe, and be.
Let the poses shake something loose. Let them remind you that you are not your habits, your history, or even your thoughts. You are spacious, adaptable, alive. And the moment you stop chasing an identity is the moment you begin to actually live.
Your body already knows the way.
All you have to do is listen.
Inspiration:
Listen: I am the light, by Zen That Beat
Read: The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer