Workaholics Anonymous: Embracing Presence and Stillness

Decades ago yoga had entered the United States and intially became quite popular. Every town in the United States had yoga classes. With a few phone calls one could find a teacher in the most remote of towns that was teaching yoga at the library, community center, and studios were opening in the big cities almost one every month. Then a brave group of people realized that the most important aspects of yoga were still happening...something was still missing.

A few brave yoga teachers banded their most couragious students and slowed everything down. Yin Yoga was born where all of the poses that were held in the class had an easy position to be held, blocks and blankets were encouraged, and rather than having people do poses like the instructor, the class was taught in a way were the instructor would listen to their students and Patiently Observe their range of motion and stamina in each pose. 

Stamina became redefined in the American world. Aerobic exercise led everyone to not have enough breath

Patient Observation is the cornerstone of Workaholics Anonymous. The most important fulcrums that will help bring balance to our lives are with our own body. By slowing down and spending time with ourselves we can learn about how to balance our breath, how our right side of our body works with our left sides. How our front sides of our bodies work with our back sides of our bodies, the range of motion for each joint of our bodies, and what we can do to strengthen the muscles that can hold our skeleton in different positions. 

Hard work has only hardened our hearts to serve a few people that do not care about us, and the ones that we love get neglected. Hard work leads to overwork and underpay and a divorse from those who we can give the most. So in this series we stop to take time for one of your best friends for your journey of life...your body.

It is very difficult for people to be where they are at in the moment. We at Workaholics Anonymous have a solid team that has been working with the most stubborn and inflexible and stubborn bodies, and we are confident we have many reasons that you could be easier on yourself by finding more balance and soft work in your life. 

This challenge is precisely what Yin Yoga is designed to address. The initial approach to a physical yoga practice for someone on this path will primarily be through Yin Yoga. This style, characterized by long-held, passive stretches, encourages deep introspection and a profound slowing down. It provides a unique opportunity to cultivate mindfulness, observe sensations without judgment, and consciously remain present in each moment – a critical skill for those accustomed to constant striving and forward momentum.

In Yin practice, the focus is on developing a clear understanding of breath control, exploring and increasing flexibility through sustained holds, and building a subtle, internal sense of strength and endurance. This foundational work allows for an honest and compassionate assessment of one's physical and mental landscape.

The transition from Yin into a more dynamic Yang practice is approached with careful consideration. This shift will only occur when a clear understanding of breath control, flexibility, and strength are assessed for the person. It is not about rushing to the next posture or challenge, rather we build an intentional progression, ensuring the practitioner has developed a stable internal anchor before engaging in more active forms of movement. This mindful approach ensures that the yoga practice truly serves the individual's journey towards greater self-awareness and sustained presence.