I feel like I need to address why I rate the movies I watch with the yoga poses I practice. Each yoga pose has a diverse and unique meaning or theme associated with it. In a way it’s like telling a story, just like movies do.
Some yoga poses focus on the root of your being; who your true self is. Some movies bring us characters who are on a path of self discovery. Other yoga postures focus on the heart chakra. Some films tell stories that deal with love. It’s all relative! Do you see where I am going with this?!
I have now worked in the film industry for almost seven years. I’ve seen the ins and outs of what actually goes into making a movie from start to finish. It’s hard work and does not necessarily deserve a rating that marks it “good” or “bad”. I am not an expert by any means, however, I love talking about the elements I’ve taken in throughout this period of my life.
With films, I endlessly discover connections to the characters, to the writing, to the filmmaking, to the costume design and even the overall look of the film. It’s all art to me.
People react differently to art that they stumble upon. My favorite movie could be a movie that you absolutely hate and that’s OK. Why should I rate a movie with one star or four stars? Two thumbs up or zero thumbs up? Love or hate; movies still evoke these kinds offerings and so does yoga.
I came to my yoga mat just two years ago when I was in a really dark place. Yoga allowed me to come back to myself; to validate my sensitivity to feeling low and depressed. I was able to relax into who I was even though it was terribly difficult.
I found that certain yoga poses allowed me to practice finding the center and root of particular life problems I was facing. Watching movies, whether they’re good or bad, evoked similar reactions and made me feel less alone. Both yoga and movies still my mind, which is helpful when I am trying to ground and find inner stillness.
The root word of yoga is often translated to “unite” or “connect”. Oftentimes in yoga, we start with a simple breath and move towards postures that are unknown. In movies, we always start at the beginning. Where the story will lead and turn, we do not know. Either way, emotions are evoked and themes in movies can be defined with the practice of yoga.