Wendy Reese Hartmann has been teaching yoga for 18 years and logged 500 hours of yoga instructor training. Over time, she recognized that students would come in stressed and struggling and would leave feeling “blissed out,” so she started thinking about how to help people carry the benefits of yoga into daily life.
She wrote The Alchemy of Yoga, Living Yoga Off the Mat as an overview of how she modified her teaching style as a result of the realization that people need to be able to benefit from yoga throughout the day, not just when on the mat doing stretches.
“Yoga is alchemy,” Hartmann said. “If you are willing to stick with it, yoga changes you. If we are willing to stretch into accepting ourselves as is, perfectly imperfect, we might have a shot at stretching to accept those who differ from us, whether that’s politicians, media, neighbors or strangers on Facebook with whom we most violently disagree.”
“Yoga teaches how to connect to your body and mind in a more intentional, conscious way,” she writes. “It shifts and shapes you in subtle yet profound ways. Even though you may have a wonderful yoga teacher, the asanas in conjunction with your own inner wisdom become the ultimate teacher.”
Regardless of if you do a physical asana practice, Hartmann said the opportunity to practice yoga every moment of every day is always available. “We realign, find balance, strength, and flexibility. We surrender. We unite. That’s the vulnerability of yoga.”
She said the information in The Alchemy of Yoga can change you in a way you might find surprising. It will teach you much about yourself and how to engage. It takes you on a deeper exploration of the larger questions yoga always inspires: Who am I and why am I here?
“This book is for people who simply want to enjoy life to the fullest and make a difference to the world around them,” Hartmann said. “Because yoga is for all. It makes us stronger. It improves balance. It encourages us to surrender our ego and pride so we can live the life we deeply desire.”
Hartmann’s book is about using the physical practice (asana) of yoga to adapt to challenges. Yoga, which means union, can be used to provide a deeper connection with your mind, body, breath, God/the divine/the universe, and other people. It can also be particularly helpful at times when an illness, injury or life event can derail you.
“What you could do yesterday you might not be able to do today, and who knows when, or if, you’ll do it again?” she asks. “That’s where union with acceptance is critical. Without it, we can become self-judgmental and ego driven. This can lead to more injuries. For me, just knowing where my body is tight or tired allows me to set healthy boundaries. Nobody knows our bodies better than ourselves. Even if a teacher sees where we could improve our asana, it doesn’t necessarily mean we should do that adjustment.”
Hartmann strives to unite the peace she finds on the mat into her world off the mat.
“The beginning and ending of my day are designed to help me unite with my highest self,” she said. “I try to unite my deepest wisdom, compassion and love daily. Most days, at best, I graze it. Still, I have to keep showing up, keep willing to be me, united, congruent, whole.”
Hartmann has noticed something interesting in herself and students. As they practice self-trust and self-compassion on the mat, their bodies become more flexible, and that correlates off the mat.
“As I became more ‘bendy,’ I weathered the storms that came and went in my life with greater ease,” she said. “I would ask, ‘I wonder what the lesson is here? Why would I choose this experience, consciously or subconsciously?’ Just like when I would lean into my inflexible places on the mat, I would simply deepen my breath and listen, exploring what was there for that moment, in that space.
“You begin to realize that you are strong enough to handle it. You become willing to take risks, try new things. Every try is an expansion of your mind and soul.
“You cannot change your past. You cannot control your future. In the present moment, you can remain curious and compassionately focused. Yoga teaches us to remain present.”
Hartmann moved to Eureka Springs a year ago with her husband to open a brewery. Once that’s open, she plans to offer yoga there. She currently teaches a functional fitness class, body/core conditioning, and simply stretching at Eureka Springs Community Center.
The Alchemy of Yoga is available at Amazon.com. Hartmann also teaches private yoga, holistic physical training, online programs for managing stress, and mindfulness training. For more information, see wholebeinginc.com.