Press

Yoga Journal, April 30, 2023: “Your Body Is Not Perfectly Symmetrical. Neither Is Your Yoga Practice. And that’s perfectly okay.” by Sarah Ezrin

read the entire article: here

Embracing Our Asymmetry

Yoga teacher Andrew Pyo believes that focusing on symmetry can perpetuate tendencies within us that are antithetical to the deeper intentions we are trying to bring to yoga asana (postures). “Without a sense of detachment from the outcome, the idea of symmetry may foster an unhealthy obsession towards perfectionism, leading us to feel ‘less than,’” says Pyo, who teaches a popular Iyengar-influenced flow class at The Well in New York City. “This can potentially become an obstacle to deeper observation and learning about ourselves,” he says.

Our differences are also what makes us uniquely us, says Pyo. “(Asymmetries) are little pieces that contribute to our individuality. What’s important during yoga asana is to notice and observe our habits and imbalances, which ultimately help to inform and reveal who we are,” he says.