Exploring our self infused edges in yoga
Meeting Our Edges in Yoga: A Journey Beyond the Ego
“Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
If you’ve been practising yoga for a while, you’ve probably heard your teacher say, “Find your edge.” But what does that actually mean?
As you know, my practice has shifted towards Functional Yoga, a less rigid approach that focuses more on how you feelrather than how it looks. Instead of trying to fit my body into a perfect shape, I explore movement that supports my unique bones, joints, and structure.
Recently, I revisited the book Your Body, Your Yoga, in which Bernie Clark discusses how our unique anatomy influences our experience in postures. But he also prompted me to reflect on something much deeper: our practice is shaped not just by bones and muscles, but by our emotions, our minds, and our ego.
For a long time, I believed my edge was about how deeply I could move into a pose. Could I stretch a little further? Hold a little longer? Push through discomfort? But the more I practised, the more I realised that my edge wasn’t just physical - it was emotional, psychological, and even spiritual. And each time I met it, I had a choice: push, retreat, or stay and listen.
So, in today’s post, I’d love to explore these self-infused edges: the places where we meet ourselves on the mat and, if we’re willing, begin to truly understand who we are.
The Physical Edge: When the Ego Meets the Body
The physical edge is probably the easiest to spot. It’s that moment in a pose when your body says, “That’s enough.”
Bernie Clark reminds us that every body is different. Your bones, joints, and fascia determine your range of motion - not how long you’ve been practising. Some of us will naturally have deep backbends, while others may never touch our toes, and that’s okay. But this is where the ego steps in - it doesn’t like limitations.
How the Ego Shows Up at Your Physical Edge:
You push past discomfort because the person next to you is “doing it better.”
You ignore pain because you think you should be able to go deeper.
You get frustrated when a pose doesn’t look the way you want it to.
I struggled with this for a long time. I wanted my poses to look “right and beautiful.” But every time I forced my body into something it wasn’t ready for, I ended up feeling worse, not better. When I finally started listening instead of forcing, my practice transformed. It was like a total release - like I’d left a huge weight behind. I felt free again. Free from self-judgement, free from impostor syndrome, and free from stereotypes.
Reflection:
Next time you hit your physical edge, ask: Am I honouring my body, or am I trying to prove something?
The Emotional Edge: When Yoga Gets Uncomfortable
This might feel familiar. Have you ever found yourself tearing up in a pose? I have - especially when I began practising Yin Yoga, where I sat longer and quieter in postures and, quite literally, sat with my own discomfort.
Our bodies store emotions, grief, stress, trauma - all of which is tucked away in our muscles and fascia. When we stretch and release, we sometimes reach an emotional edge. And let’s be honest - it’s uncomfortable. When we sit in stillness, we listen, we observe, and everything becomes visible… our true self arises, and we confront it without filters.
I used to avoid certain poses because I didn’t want to feel what was coming up. But emotions don’t vanish just because we ignore them. When we meet our emotional edge in yoga, we have a choice: numb ourselves or allow ourselves to feel.
A powerful way to release is to let those emotions rise.
A note of caution:
If you’ve experienced trauma, please approach this with the guidance of a qualified expert. Not everyone is ready to face stored emotions on their own.
How the Ego Shows Up at Your Emotional Edge:
You distract yourself when emotions arise (fixing your hair, looking around, fidgeting).
You avoid certain poses because they bring up discomfort.
You judge yourself for feeling vulnerable.
What if, instead of running, we sat with it? What if we breathed through it, allowing whatever needs to surface to do so?
Reflection:
Next time you feel something bubbling up in a pose, ask: Can I let this emotion exist without pushing it away or holding onto it?
The Psychological Edge: The Stories We Tell Ourselves
The psychological edge is sneaky. It’s not about the body—it’s about the stories our mind tells us. And we all know how tricky our minds can be.
Bernie Clark talks about how our perception of limits is often shaped by conditioning rather than reality. If you’ve always thought, I’m not flexible, I’m not strong, I’m not good at this, your body will follow suit. Our minds shape our experience more than we realise.
I can’t count the times I’ve heard, “Yoga’s not for me - I’m not flexible,” or “I don’t have the right body for yoga.”
Yoga isn’t what we’ve been made to believe. It’s not about performance. It’s about us - how we speak to ourselves - how we see ourselves.
How the Ego Shows Up at Your Psychological Edge:
You tell yourself, “I can’t do this.”
You compare yourself to how you used to be (“I was so much better at this before.”)
You get caught in frustration instead of focusing on your breath.
I’ve had many moments stuck in my head, spiralling in self-judgement. But the truth is, the thoughts we repeat become our reality. What if, instead of believing every doubt, we questioned it?
Reflection:
When a limiting belief surfaces in your practice, ask: Is this actually true, or is it just a thought I’ve been carrying around?
The Spiritual Edge: Surrendering Control
Beyond the body, beyond the mind, lies the spiritual edge and the place where we let go. The place many people avoid or resist.
The ego loves control. It loves goals, achievements, and validation. But yoga isn’t about proving - it’s about being. It’s about realising you are already enough, just as you are. You don’t need anything else - just you.
How the Ego Shows Up at Your Spiritual Edge:
You feel restless when things don’t go as planned.
You seek validation in your practice (“Look how deep I can go!”).
You struggle to let go of expectations.
For me, the hardest part of yoga isn’t the postures, it’s the surrender. Can I let go of how I think things should be? Can I simply allow myself to be in the moment, without control or striving?
Reflection:
Next time you’re on your mat, ask: What would happen if I let go of the need to achieve and simply allowed myself to experience?
Bringing It All Together: Meeting Our Edges with Awareness
Our edges, physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual - are where we meet ourselves. They reveal how we respond to discomfort, challenge, and change.
Each time we meet an edge, we have a choice:
Push through and risk disconnecting.
Avoid it and stay in our comfort zone.
Or… stay with it, breathe, and listen.
The ego will always want more. It will compare, judge, and try to control. But yoga isn’t about proving - it’s about becoming aware.
Next time you step onto your mat, notice where you meet your edge. Notice how your mind responds. And instead of forcing or fleeing, try staying.
Breathe. Listen. Let go.
Because that’s where the real transformation happens.
And that’s where yoga truly begins.
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“Your edge is not a limit, but a conversation — between effort and ease, courage and care. It’s where growth begins.”