The Challenge of Letting Go

One of my first yoga teachers used to say that the practice is never a competition with anyone else in the room or with yourself. I don't think there is anything wrong with competition per se. But competitiveness in yoga indicates that our focus has shifted away from an awareness of, and respect for, where we are and how we're feeling in a given moment, to something external--trying to impress that person on the mat next to you, say, or the teacher. Telling yourself you "should" be able to do a certain posture or forcing yourself to do something that you were able to do ten years ago (or last week) are just a couple of ways that our ego (the root of so much competitiveness) can take over our practice. It's interesting that every single time I've strained or over-extended in yoga (which can result in minor injury), it has been because I had shifted my focus away from my own practice and/or momentarily let my ego take over. Keeping our egos in check and being constantly mindful is one of the great challenges of practicing yoga. But it can also lead to some of the greatest benefits.