"Stop the ill will" - Marco M.

Stop the ill will

To stay informed about the world of Yoga in Italy, I have the subscription to several newsletters just like many of you. One of them, which I received a short time ago, particularly struck me. It was sent by one of the most famous entities of online Yoga towards whom I have no "ill will" but which I only use to share a reflection with you.  When I read the object of the email, I was expecting the usual banal rant about the fact that practicing Yoga makes the ill will go away.

But this was not the case and the content was less banal yet highly disturbing. 

In fact, the newsletter describes all the advantages of practicing digitally from home, compared to going to a Yoga center. In addition to simple and sensible reasons such as not having to look for parking, saving time, saving money and so on, the list ends by stating that, above all, by staying at home you avoid the ill will of others.  

The issue is anything but trivial and what the newsletter says is real. Because let's face it, "yogic" environments, no more and no less than many other situations where one has to deal with others, are full of ill will or tendency to complain, envy and resentment. 

About ten years ago, the newsletter would have told the false banality, that is, that by practicing yoga you fight ill will and instead now we move on to strategies to avoid it. 

I know, I'm old fashioned, however, my conception of Yoga, and of all the practice without boundaries of names and techniques, also has to do with "being surrounded by ill will yet being able not to suffer it". Because otherwise you'll appreciate that there is nothing else to do! Would the solution be to lock myself in a niche and relate only to artificial intelligences because true and real relationships hurt me? Do you understand that this can no longer be called life but only mere survival?  

I don't want to end with the equally banal pantomime telling you that "in presence" is infinitely better than "digital". Practice where you feel like in the way you see fit, but don't choose out of "fear" and don't give up your humanity.     

m.m.