Anti-Fragility & Human Variation*

I am presently studying, “Anti-Fragility and Human Variation,” at the ANATOMY AND YOGA THERAPY CONFERENCE with Bernie Clark at Yoga International…

This is such a statement to and a champion for our uniqueness — each of us — and how there is

(1.) NO SUCH THING AS NORMAL 

Everyone harps, “why can’t you be more, ‘normal,‘“ — as if it’s a thing and everyone should be one way when not any one body is even the same as any other…

Can you dig that?? Read that again…

THÉRE IS NO SUCH THING AS, “NORMAL,” BECAUSE PHYSICALLY NONE OF US ARE EVEN THE SAME! 

Cue all those times you judged yourself for not being, “normal,” thinking you were, “too much,” or, “not enough,” and here is nature telling you…

“My love, there is only one of you in all time and space (in all lifetimes!), and this is not a lifetime to wish you were someone else when I created you to be all you — no one else.”

It’s so wonderful to hear, and liberating to be reminded!

So the exercises we do, the mindsets, the activities, the life choices, the relationships, dear Lord, don’t even need to be measured by any one standard except THAT WHICH ACTUALLY SUITS AND CONFORMS TO YOUR OWN PERSONAL UNIQUE NATURE because you are unique by nature — no one is like you so you don’t get to be measured by someone else’s values!!

(2.) STRESS BUILDS RESILIENCE 

And thén there is that other social pressure of things needing to be easy and if it’s not easy thén there is something wrong with you as if you should just be lounging and eating grapes the whole time…

This champions having things to do and challenges to overcome as leading to our resilience as organisms, with exercise being one example as it strengthens bones and even produces collagen as we get older!

When things are easy we become fragile — and the smallest things hurt or even break us cos we aren’t even fit to deal with them! Imagine having an immune system that doesn’t even keep you immune cos it was never exposed to germs!

Slide from Bernie Clark’s, “Anti-Fragility & Human Variation,” presentation at the ANATOMY & YOGA THERAPY CONFERENCE at Yoga International

IT IS THOSE WHO ROLL WITH THE TIDES OF LIFE THAT RISE RESILIENT, VIBRANT AND ALIVE IN LIFE!! 

Of course, this is not to say rest is, “bad,” or that, “you should not rest,” or to judge those who do.

Too much stress can injure or harm, as well… 

If you’ve had a rough day at work or a long week certainly relaxing the whole weekend and enjoying yourself is the antidote and medicine…

“But just because we can do too much doesn’t mean we don’t do anything at all.” — Bernie Clark

Bernie goes on to say that the formula for STRENGTH OF MIND AND BODY = Stress + Rest

Slide from Bernie Clark’s, “Anti-Fragility & Human Variation,” presentation at the ANATOMY & YOGA THERAPY CONFERENCE at Yoga International

Thé liberation comes when he reminds us not to be afraid of stress or to judge or fight against it — less about the aesthetics of life and more about its functionality in actual, vibrant living.

An honoring of vicissitudes when they come that actually render us resilient, stronger and more alive versus a denial or avoidance of them because the law of life is GROWTH and we can have a positive mental attitude when they roll in understanding they render us more alive than we fear the opposite…

And that IT IS NATURE!! 

NATURE IS SUCH A RELIEF because she gives the Science and Math of Living and how we don’t need to get lost in the semantics of personalities or industries interested in forwarding an agenda outside our own!

Everything other people tell you, “what you should do or be,” is thrown out the window next to her awesomeness!

Next time you feel like you’re under the ringer you can remind yourself — HEY! I’m alive!

THANK HEAVENS!!