Try on different versions of yourself to settle anxiety

According to the yoga tradition, there are three qualities, or three energetic forces, that are always present (to various degrees) in all things and beings in the world. Those qualities are the three gunas–rajas, tamas, and sattva–and each of them has its own unique attributes. Those qualities are always present in our emotional states and in our interactions with the world. You can think of them as a spectrum with sattvic energy of clarity and balance in the middle; hectic, disorganized rajasic energy on one end; and slow, heavy and stagnant tamasic energy on the other. When we are dealing with our inner state, it helps to recognize where we are on that spectrum so that we could use proper tools to move ourselves toward the sattvic middle.

When we deal with anxiety, we usually tend to find ourselves on the rajasic end of the spectrum. This means that to feel more balanced, we need to discharge some of the excess energy and organize it in some way. And this is exactly the kind of practice that my friend and colleague Alison Wesley has for us today. After initially shaking off loose excess energy and tensions, this practice gives you an opportunity to “try on” different versions of yourself: the one that possesses qualities like fierceness, strength, and sturdiness, and another that is okay with not knowing the answer, going with the flow, not having anything to do. The practice concludes with breathwork to elongate the exhale. This practice is less about what poses you do and more about who you are while practicing.