What happens when you start an article with a trick question?
More people read it - at least, most likely, if the internet has taught us anything about human curiosity.
In truth, my thoughts around difficulty and Yoga practice have in many ways come full circle. A short answer has always been 'yes,' but the depth of what 'hard' might mean has increased.
Poses are introduced to us, most often as, "Asana"
Trikonasana - triangle
Virabhadrasana - warrior
Vriksasana - tree
etc., etc.
Much of this comes from the way that Yoga practices were brought to the West in recent history.
When I've been introduced to a body shape as a Yoga Asana, there was always an emphasis on making an effort. That hasn't always meant effort-ing in a sweaty or heat-generating way.
At first, it was making an effort to remain still in relaxing poses - for example, when I was introduced to Yoga relaxation at 14 years old. My fidgety teenage self had to try really hard to sit still and be in the process of doing nothing. Over time, I began to look forward to that break. That might have been closer to the description of Asana in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras - a seat of 'continual effort and endless relaxation'.
More often as I pursued Yoga, I was introduced to Yoga Asana in a way where asana meant making a physically intense effort - for example, practicing warrior poses in a 100-degree room. This may be a bit closer to Tapas.
Asana and Tapas
Asana in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is a term that means to be still or engrossed in continual effort and endless relaxation. A teacher I learn from, and one who is an authority on accurate translation of Yoga Sutras, suggests that the poses of today are more accurately what Pantajali describes as Tapas, or the friction, austerities, or discipline of practice (Ranganathan, 2008, p. 319).
In other words, the methods or tools that cause friction/heat and give us an opportunity to practice discipline so that finding a seat (asana) can be achieved.
Does this mean Yoga poses are meant to be hard? Perhaps, in so much as they have the opportunity to introduce friction. Practices that challenge us to work towards a balanced state of being with continual effort and endless relaxation
Right Process > Right Outcome
One of my favorite quotes is "You either win, or you learn. So you'll never lose."
This quote has held true for me, especially during times when bad luck has set in, despite taking all of the right action.
Outcomes are rather hard to predict, and if all of our work is hinged on a certain outcome but never takes into account the method or process of getting there, a lot of value is lost. For example, you may not know how to recreate good outcomes without a commitment to the process.
Or, you might fall into attribution errors, like assuming that because you had a good outcome it had something to do with your effort - when the real answer might be that privilege or luck did the heavy lifting for you.
More often than not, in my own life, it's been a blend of both. Having a blind spot of how my position, or network, or genetics, or race, or nationality has opened a door for me. I also have berated myself, and lamented over my own failings and shortcomings when in hindsight a loss had more to do with bad luck, poor timing, or the actions of someone else that I couldn't control.
Luckily, Yoga is not a philosophy that is overly concerned with a good outcome, but rather invested in the right process and a good aim.
In this way, Yoga philosophy is different than many others, especially Western, philosophies.
Yoga does not propose that the ends justify the means.
The Yogi's Challenge
Yoga instead challenges the Yogi to pursue the principles of Tapas, Self-Governance, and Devotion to a Divine Ideal. These are underpinned by the Yamas & Niyamas, which are ethical and moral codes of being.
In essence, to be a Yogi is to continually, and willfully, put ourselves in situations that cause us to rub up against our own conditioning and habituations, take full accountability for ourselves (note: this does not mean assuming fault for things outside our control or victim blame), and calibrate our compass to the Divine (or the Universal ideal of our understanding).
From there, if we take a long-range view, acute outcomes begin to matter a little less as our path is still unfolding.
Yoga & Psychology
Yoga is a philosophy that is concerned with shedding the conditioning and habituations that leave us confused, reactive, and ignorant. Because liberating ourselves from being controlled by the conditioned, and fluctuating nature of the thinking-mind, and the physical body, so that we (as our essence) can experience freedom is the project of yoga then process becomes very important.
Consider this as mental, emotional, free-will freedom!
In this way, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras are much like the psychological theories we know today. When we put forth consistent effort, and push against our perceived limitations - with commitment over a long period of time - things change.
Don't believe me?
Try Tapas!
Engage in a Vinyasa Yoga Class 365 days while embracing the principles of Ahimsa (non-harming) and Satya (truthfulness) in your approach. Modify to prevent harm, but also be truthful about your attitude so you don't shrink or limit yourself as you grow.
I'm willing to bet that after a year chaturanga dandasana will feel much easier.
Your body will feel changed.
And your belief about yourself and the perceived difficulty of a Vinyasa class the year prior.
Because the body can change, and the mind can change, and because you can observe those things then you can also liberate yourself from feeling constrained by your current mental and physical limitations. For me, this is incredibly hopeful! But for our brains to start to adopt an approach of hope, we need to give ourselves evidence of our own self-efficacy. So start with small daily wins.
Next time you step on your mat and meet something hard, you might consider that downward dog is strengthening your body, but it also presents an opportunity to prove to yourself just how strong you are!
If you would like the translation of the Yoga Sutras that I mention, it is linked in my Amazon Storefront here.
REFERENCES
Ranganathan, S. (2008). Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: Translation and Commentary. Penguin India
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