Chag Sameach! Shabbat Shalom!
Since the last time I wrote, I have found that moving my body has become a regular part of my daily life. It sounds simple (and truly it is), but it has required major dedication on my part. A body in motion stays in motion, but a body at rest…. man does that body want to stay at rest. Whether it be walking the dog, “running”, or online yoga classes I have been moving my body. The yoga thing was a sincere act of bravery for me. I used to do yoga a LOT. It was something I felt naturally good at and therefore was able to move into challenging poses pretty readily.
But then life happened and I made choices to do other things with my time and body. I’m working very hard to take any judgement out of that statement. It is neither good nor bad, but it most certainly is true.
Anyways, reclaiming space at the mat and wrestling with a different body and different mind than the last time I regularly practiced yoga has been illuminating.
One of the things I’m extraordinarily unsuccessful with in yoga are the binds. Binding is the process of one part of the body holding onto another, intertwining it within itself.
Binding is a delicate process that requires a mixture of curiosity, determination, and compassion. You can’t be passive about binding or you’ll never get to experience it, but you can’t be forceful with them either since that can be a great way to injure yourself.
Of note: binding in yoga is voluntary. It is intentional.
Perhaps you see where this is going, but I am finding a lot of contrast between the lessons of binding in yoga, and the lessons of binding and bondage in Judaism.
Since we are observing Pesach right now, I am thinking a lot about involuntary bondage. The people of Israel, ruled by the Pharaoh in Egypt, escape Mitzrayim and their bondage. As we know, the slavery of the Jews is not an isolated event. Throughout history and certainly today we see that slavery continues. Nearly 21 million people are still enslaved throughout the world.
Indeed, many Jews structure their entire seders around social justice. This online resources is a pre-made Social Justice centric haggadah. The reality of slavery and human trafficking in 2018 is unthinkable and unacceptable.
However, there is also voluntary binding in the Torah. The Binding of Isaac is one of the holiest passages we have in the Torah. Through Abraham binds Isaac, not himself, that could perhaps be even more challenge, given the special relationship a parent has with his/her child.
What we learn from the intentional binding of Isaac is that binding pushes us into the most vulnerable of positions, while simultaneously connecting us to ourselves in a way that brings us closer to God.
That is what I feel like yoga has done for me.
I think about the simple position of the standing forward bend:
photo courtesy of pexel
In this position we move inward and fold in upon ourselves. This step is critical, and helps us to find length when we rise up. You have to start inward.
In a world that feels impossibly overwhelming at times it can seem tough to know where to start. Rabbi Tarfon teaches us:
“It is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the world, but you are not free to desist from it either.”
I feel like Judaism supports the concept of starting inward and moving outward when it comes to repairing the world. So that is where I plan to start.
Borrowing a concept used by many but well-described by Leslie Koppelman Ross, I believe self-liberation is the first step. Today I’d like to share with you eight Mitzrayim I am personally trying to overcome. I hope to focus on one per day.
My Mitzrayim: things I hope to overcome
Talking more and listening less. Especially to marginalized people.
Prioritizing what people think about me. What people think about you is none of your business.
Avoiding creativity to avoid criticism.
Putting others down to raise myself up.
Making assumptions.
Giving less than I can.
Allowing fear to stand in the way of what’s right.
Avoiding hard and painful work.
Just as with yoga, I hope by voluntarily binding myself to these concepts, I will feel the muscles stretch a bit, and I will be able to move through the world a little more aware and capable.
I hope this is a meaningful holiday season for everyone! Chag sameach!
And You Shall Love 