Not a super flexy slender Yoga chick talks "the Power of Anger”

We often see anger as a negative sign. As something that should not be there showing that we are not evolved enough, not spiritual enough, not calm enough. Anger has the power to turn intelligent adults into dramatic toddlers in less than thirty seconds. The truth is, however, that anger is a signal. It’s an energetic information that rises from something we suppress (for too long maybe). 

The problem is not that we feel anger, but rather the way we deal with it. We either explode with it or pretend we do not have it. Neither strategy is particularly healthy.

But were we given the tools to deal with anger? Some of us were raised to suppress it, be nice and please whoever wrongs us. Smile whatever happens and don’t make a scene. Meanwhile, the jaw tightens, the shoulders creep up toward the ears and the stomach starts tying sailor knots. Others were taught that anger equals power, so they slam doors, send long messages they later regret and call it honesty.

Yoga does not ask you to become a saint who floats above emotions. It does require you to become aware and there is a big difference. On the mat for example, you can see anger in small, subtle ways: 

• The pose is not working.

• The balance is off. 

• The body feels stiff.

And suddenly you are irritated at EVERYTHING: hamstrings, teacher, concept of gravity, at the pose… but you are actually angry at the gap between where you are and where you think you should be. That gap is uncomfortable.

Anger often appears when a boundary has been crossed or when you have crossed your own boundary. Anger then shows up like a loyal but slightly dramatic friend saying, “Excuse me, we need to talk.” and instead of shoving it away, sit with it. Breathe with it. Notice where it lives in your body. Is it heat in the face? Pressure in the chest? A buzzing in the arms? The body is very honest. Much more honest than the stories we build around the emotion.

And now, let me talk about TAPAS! And get the mind out of your stomach, not the good Spanish tapas. In Yoga philosophy, we speak about Tapas, the inner fire. And this fire can burn your wood to cook your food OR burn your house down. The element itself is not the villain. It depends on how you relate to it. Anger is part of that fire. When guided, it gives you courage to change something that is not aligned. When unconscious on the other hand, it lashes out in all directions.

Say, “I am angry.” Without adding a novel after it. Breathe and slow down. Try to not react, feel the fire without immediately throwing it at the nearest human. This is where your Yoga practice becomes real. 

So next time you feel anger, invite it in but maybe keep the matches out of reach.