Yinka Fabusuyi: What yoga taught me

When I came to yoga in 1993, I thought it had nothing to offer and had little knowledge beyond the cliche. Since then I have trained as a yoga teacher, have been teaching since 1999, have had 3 children, 2 serious illnesses and have taken online classes. My body did it and I kept going. My mind was
another thing. Of all the devils on my shoulder and the negative thoughts that were about my body in relation to yoga were the recurring ones. Overall I'm happy with my body, it was what my body could and couldn't do in the asana yoga class that haunted me the most. I've mostly kept this to myself, but the last 18 months have given me more time to think, and so I'm speaking out. Accessibility and inclusivity in yoga have come to town and I realize that some of my own experiences with exclusion in a yoga class have uniquely positioned me as a yoga teacher.

What yoga taught me about my body

I was very surprised when I started practicing yoga to discover the limitations of the soft tissues and joints in my body. In fact, I have very long limbs, contracted ligaments, shortened tendons and as a result my wrists bend very little. In addition to difficulty fully extending some of my fingers, my hips do not rotate outward
(open) a lot. For me, my solutions were avoiding certain classes, missing teaching opportunities at studios, almost missing out on opportunities to work with Yogamatters, and worrying about how my students viewed me. In a profession where image is so important, I was hesitant to post pictures of myself doing asanas
my social media. I faded into the background when attending courses; I never came out as a teacher on yoga retreats. My heart sank when the topic came up in social situations and I was asked if I could... (insert complex posture of choice). I envied the ease with which some seemed to practice. Most of these demons have
laid to rest, but I'm a work in progress. I wonder how many of you teach
This wonderful practice feels the same, and how has it affected you?

The benefits of my unique body were many. I now realize that my long limbs allow me to assume certain postures that others may have difficulty with. I have long had insights into the ways ableist teachings and lack of accessibility turn some people off. My teaching reflected that, and of course I have it too
benefit from what I can bring with me as a practicing osteopath. Yoga classes are a source of great strength and support, as they should be, and are complemented by my research on the topic. During asana class, I ask my students to think about how it feels to perform an asana rather than how others or themselves look. I encourage curiosity as to why someone would desperately try to achieve the full expression of any posture. I ask why they fight with their bodies; I also support progress, but that doesn't always have to be expressed through an attitude or have external validation.

What yoga has taught me about my personal practice

Yoga has taught me so much about myself, yoga has let me know when I was physically unwell but also when I needed to rest. Yoga has made me calmer than I could be otherwise, yoga has helped me make a living. It taught me to accept the way my body is and stop questioning it and it led me to this
helping others accept their own. Now, when the demon wants to whisper in my ear, I react differently: I stand where I can see and hear best instead of worrying about who can see me. I adapt the postures to my body and to those that work best with my limitations. I've learned through injuries that this is the best way. I go to courses where I can learn and that makes me feel good. I speak up when I see ableism affecting me. Zoom recordings have been very educational in improving my teaching style. I encourage my students to adjust postures and try to point this out when I teach. As the great Maya Angelou said, "Do your best until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

The 3 Cs: Consent, Communication and Trust

When I teach now, I make sure that this commitment to practice for myself and my students is driven, among other things, by what I call the 3 Cs: finding agreement about how we want to work with people, creating good communication and trust.

In the last 18 months I have taught more yoga than ever before and I am grateful to everyone who has supported me. I had the opportunity to reflect on my work-life balance and made some changes. I now take more time for workshops and courses and hope to pass on my knowledge. But wherever you practice, stay curious, enjoy it, and rest when you need it.