I don’t know about you, but I was glued to the coverage of the Tokyo Olympics. Even if you weren’t frantically punching “record” on your DVR and then reconciling scheduling conflicts because you can only record three things at once, I think it would’ve been tough to miss the news about Simone Biles.
The recap and the revelation
In case you did miss it, here’s the CliffsNotes: Biles was slated to participate in all the gymnastics events in Tokyo. She completed her first rotation, and it was clear that she was having difficulties. She bowed out of several other events before returning triumphantly for the balance beam.
When she opted out, I knew I was seeing some serious yoga in action. I couldn’t wait to talk to you about it.
I rarely say there’s something that every yogi must learn since we’re all walking around in different bodies coming from diverse cultural contexts. I’ll go out on a limb with this, though, and say that every single one of us must cultivate discernment.
Discernment… isn’t that just common sense?
Sort of. "Discernment" is one way we translate the Sanskrit term Viveka. As noted in the Alan Finger/ Wendy Newton translation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras:
"Viveka” means “to perceive things as they really are (2.26)."
That makes sense intellectually, right? What we know to be true in theory can be shaky in practice, however. How many times have you thought you knew something, and then discovered later that things were not as they seemed?
Common sense dictates that when Simone Biles realized her body-awareness was out of whack, the right thing to do would be to step back. Even so, there are a lot of people that might have tried to continue with the competition anyway. Everybody is watching.
To fully embody discernment, one must perceive reality and then act according to that accurate perception.
Simone Biles not only had to see the way things really were for her in Tokyo. She also had to take the correct action.
How can we practice discernment?
Step one is recognizing the disconnect between what we see and our true nature. Gabor Maté often begins his lectures by demonstrating that we are taught to ignore our intuition. When we're kids, we learn how to be the most socially acceptable version of ourselves, and this often comes at the expense of the Self.
All this programming obscures the truth of what is and who we are. How do you cut through that veil of illusion to get back to being? The Sutras tell us that we can do this through yoga. What does that really look like, though?
Trust your gut
When Simone Biles decided she wasn’t going to continue, there’s footage of her saying something along the lines of, “I don’t trust myself.” She trusted her Self enough to know that she couldn't trust her body and mind to be on the same page for the competition.
Using discernment means having an ability to honestly reflect on yourself. You’re the only one having your lived experience in the exact way that you’re having it.
This fact can be daunting or empowering depending on how you view it. Nobody else can tell you how you are supposed to feel. We previously talked about using things like journaling and meditation to practice svadhyaya (self-reflection).
Check in with your body
Asana can also sharpen your discernment. When we bring our awareness to our breath and the body, we can get immediate feedback.
If we move into a pose and it's hard to breathe, or if we feel pain, that's a clear indication that we need to make a change. Experiences with trauma or illness can sometimes obscure this perception, but with practice, you can develop a stronger capacity to tune in.
To practice discernment on your mat, ask yourself, "How does this feel in my body?" Notice sensations and thoughts that arise. Then, act accordingly. You might realize that you're just coasting through the sequence. That may be the moment to add a layer of challenge. You might also notice your hip is doing that funky thing that doesn't feel great, and this could be the opportunity to dial that asana back a notch or two.
When you're practicing discernment in class, this could mean that the variation of asana you've chosen doesn't look like everyone else's. That's okay. Use your clear perception to inform your action. Do this enough on your mat, and you'll start using your more refined definition of discernment off the mat too.
Why discernment matters for the world
I know it's cheesy, but that airline safety cliché about securing your oxygen mask before assisting others is true in the practice too. We don't have to become floaty light-beings to do good things or to do the right thing. That being said, the more grounded you are and the more you trust yourself, the better you'll be able to walk in this world.
These are hard times. What we can do is give our best, and the core of that is knowing and acting on our truth. When we take care of ourselves, this gives us opportunities to help others too.
Simone Biles demonstrated this for us perfectly. By stepping back, the other gymnasts had a chance to shine.
Society tells us to barrel through whatever is going on in our lives. Up until the pandemic, that looked like going to work when you're sick. It still looks like burning the candle at both ends even though it costs health and relationships.
Simone Biles said, "Not today," and that was so powerful. She lived to fight another day, and she lifted up her teammates with her decisive action. She also set an example for those of us who struggle quietly and opened up a dialogue about mental health. Her act of discernment is still having a positive impact and will continue to do so into the future.
The part that has little to do with discernment
I wanted to talk about Simone Biles unintentionally becoming a yoga teacher last week as an avenue to discuss discernment, but there's one more thing that I can't get off my mind.
Simone Biles is a trauma survivor. Her trauma was very public. She did not have control over what happened to her.
Flash forward to the Tokyo Games 2021. Out of the dissonance that looked like losing control with the "twisties", she actually took back her power.
On her Twitter feed, Biles said "the outpouring of love & support I've received has made me realize I'm more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before."
When I saw that, it meant even more than seeing someone take home a medal. She's right. It's something I hope all of you can see, and it's something I'll be working on within my practice this week.
You are more than your accomplishments.