Balance the Ego
Has your ego crept into your yoga practice? It can be quite easy to allow the ego to take over the purpose of our practice. But how do we decipher when our ego has taken the wheel?
What is ego? It is a false self. It happens when we start to attach ourselves to stories of “I or me” and these stories begin to create a false sense of who we are, and we then only see ourselves on this surface level. I use the example of “I am a yoga teacher” – ego VS “I teach yoga” – that’s what lives in the soul.
We are all subject to letting the ego drive our purpose. There’s a balance to be found between desires, reality, and morality. We have to work within these each day. Mastering that challenging flow, achieving a difficult inversion, attending a silent retreat, can often become about the achievement. We all know some version of a quote that highlights ‘it’s the journey and not the destination’. To me this is how we discover how much of the ego is involved in what we bring to our mat. Ask yourself, is it the journey, the exploration, the present challenge, or is it simply just the end result? As always, I relate back to endurance racing events where it is likely the end result that drives me first to take on the challenge. But there is far much more learned in the good and bad training days. So much so that by the time race day arrives, it’s just the icing on the cake to be out there with all the amazing athletes, volunteers, and staff.
I promote every student to challenge themselves and that is and should be different for each student. However, let’s take the challenge of the Yin Yoga for example. Not many people appreciate that challenge as much because the destination is not as obvious to those around us. There is no fancy posture at the end. There is only you and the edge of your practice. The ego is asked to take a back seat.
There’s a quote that I offer in my 200HR Yoga Teacher Training manual that I love:
“I am not this hair, I am not this skin, I am the soul that lies within.” – Rumi (13th Century Persian Poet)
Journaling Suggestion: this week take the time to journal before and after your practices. Ask yourself what you feel gained from your practice. Whether it be a breathwork, meditation, or asana practice. Be honest, let the words flow. Notice after if your “gains” were ego based. Notice if words such as pride, power, past, future, come onto your paper/screen. Those words are part of the ego. If words such as now, humble, happiness, love are part of your language you are working within your soul.
Yoga Practice: This week’s practice will be a Yin/Yang class focused on backbends and twist. I have opened up a VOD from the Alberta Yoga College for free until Sunday, March 16, 2025. Use this link to access this 60mins practice.
Remember to always practice within your own limits and take care of physical and emotional well-being.
Wishing to learn more about the practice of yoga? Reserve Your Spot for the next 200HR yoga Teacher Training beginning September 2025! Looking for more details? Email stephaniepower.ayc@gmail.com.
If you want to share your experience with us, follow us on Instagram: @albertayogacollege
With gratitude,
-Stephanie