The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means union, or to yoke. In some teachings, this refers to union with the divine, the highest self, or all living beings. Yoga teaches that we are all one, and the separation that we experience in this life is merely an illusion. The teachings of yoga emphasize the oneness of all beings, yet, for some time, I maintained a very distinct separation between my life as a yoga teacher, and my professional world as a nurse. In a sense, I was living two separate lives.
Although the act of living in two worlds was unintentional, the boundaries I had unconsciously created were clear. I thought that a group of science minded healthcare professionals would perceive yoga as too “woo woo”, and that dedicated yogis and yoginis wouldn’t be interested in my insight and experience as a nurse. I was wrong on both counts.
The benefits of yoga have, in recent years, been embraced by many members of the scientific and medical communities as a way to promote health, prevent stress related diseases, and improve the quality of life of individuals who are in recovery or living with chronic illness. According to this article by Mayo Clinic staff, “ Yoga can help reduce risk factors for chronic diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure.”
This brings me to my second point. As yoga is being sought more and more by people who are trying to create a healthy lifestyle and reduce stress, it is helpful, and I believe, very important to be familiar with common conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and diabetes, just to name a few, and the potential physical consequences thereof. Knowledge of the body isn’t just about precise anatomic alignment, although that’s important too.
As I’ve grown in my personal yoga practice, and as a teacher, I’ve allowed those barriers to drop, slowly at first, then intentionally, purposefully, actively seeking out opportunities to merge the two into one. As I’ve allowed my knowledge and experience as a healthcare professional to inform my teaching, I’ve discovered that students want to know how their bodies work. They are eager to delve into the biological and physical truths behind ancient spiritual practices and how they contribute to overall health and wellness from a scientific standpoint. Likewise, healthcare professionals are interested in learning the benefits of yoga and how it can potentially help their patients, but also as a means of managing stress in their own lives.
While the separation wasn’t intentional, upon. reflection I believe it ultimately stemmed from an unconscious fear of rejection from two groups of people who were very important to me.
I was living the illusion of separation and denying essential parts of myself. In the true spirit of yoga, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Angela David, and I’m a proud registered nurse and a yoga teacher. I hope you’ll join me on this journey of exploration into ancient yoga philosophy backed by modern science.
To learn more, take a listen to my conversation with Rebecca Warfield on Dharma Drops Podcast where I share my unique perspective on what it’s like to being a nurse and a yoga teacher.