Shape shift much?

Blending in can be Yogic

Disclaimer: If you have to code switch as a survival mechanism by adapting your physical appearance, speech and body language to avoid being stereotyped, biased against and to fit into the dominant culture, that is exhausting. That’s not Yogic, it’s serially traumatic. The following information is not pertaining to that unfortunate reality countless oppressed members of our community live every day (racially, ethnically, economically, religiously, gender-based).

Another form of shape-shifting develops via long-term practice, according to kind, Yogic role model, Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutra-s (Yoga’s defining text). Because practice requires distinct efforts that both require and build new capacities, he often presents the fruits of the labor as motivation. Some might call this shape-shifting invisibility, but as with many ancient references, it’s in our modern interest to explore the metaphor buried in the concept.

Until I become invisible, I’d like to go with the metaphor, so as not to mislead or misrepresent. Invisibility is presented as a benefit of long-term immersion into the form of the body, which will then disappear to the eyes of others. I can’t help but think of Native Americans living in harmony with their environments, and the flora and fauna therewithin. Himalayan sages, safely abiding amongst wild animals. Humbly and to a lesser albeit not unrefined degree, even myself in the forest, walking alongside chilled out deer and hovering butterflies, unfettered by our presence.

I believe this samyama can be protective. Through introspection on the gross and subtle body, we have more presence. We land. We ground. When I am in my body, and not in my mind, I feel more protected out there in the world, more aware of my surroundings, and my place in them. I know what to turn up, and when, and down, and when.

In other cultures, I may pass off as a local. An internally-generated sense of self yields greater context-sensitivity. Staying attuned to myself supports my ability to adapt and present myself. My kaya rupa samyamat, meditation on my personal being, body, breathing, non-verbal and verbal expression, sometimes brings a nonchalance that draws attention away from my presence. In environmental circumstances that have felt unsafe or hostile, for example, I’ve known when to move, withdraw and relocate - to readily bounce so as not to draw attention my way.

I’m thinking of a loved one who was once mugged in a Target parking lot. It was a terrible circumstance. Know I am not blaming her. I can guarantee she was lost in thought and stressed while crossing the street, physically there, mentally elsewhere. I’ve been there innumerable times and am still often there, just less often. Malevolent perpetrators in society prey on that lack of being present in the body, and they harmed her, hit her with their car door, stole her bag and left her there in the street. We become obvious targets for wrongdoing, whether it’s in a parking lot or in response to modern day scammers. Something may not feel right, if we are paying attention, and withdraw at will.

Conversely, I’ve been conned before, by a charming young man in a charming, favorite place of mine, who readily disappeared after I gave him some money for a tall tale need he lied to me about. Carried away by hormones in my youth, unfamiliar with their now predictable ability to misguide me, I caved and also became a target. Out of touch with my patterns, they led me astray. Prior to regular practice, the whims went undetectable. I strayed from my body’s wisdom and intuition and became very visible target for what, in my case, was self-induced suffering. My form changed me, rather than me changing my form, the essence of this topic. Better off developing the knowing of myself enough to exhibit or withdraw my light from the eyes of others with intention, and at will.

Another angle is that we can intelligently customize our behaviors to be context sensitive to accommodate the circumstances we are in. We determine what is useful and serves a situation and subdue what is not relevant to that situation. Yoga-derived identity options arise at our disposal. We opt not to bring the past into the present, our occupational stress into the home, insensitivity or reactivity into relationships, unprocessed past trauma-s into current situations. Showing up neutral opens the door to greater harmony, unity and prosperity within our environments.