The Curious Yogi: Why Your Inner Child Loves the Playground of Presence

I have a confession to make. When I was a child I used to love playing make-believe. Make-believe that was real! I would be outside for hours on my own creating an entire universe with what was literally right in front of me. I used sand, pebbles and dirt to create shapes and mountains, leaves, feathers and twigs to build homes for my insect families, flowers and seeds to decorate and make things look and smell pretty. I would move everything around and around to tell different stories and scenarios.

Everyone and everything played an equal part. There was no planned structure or goal to anything in my little world, no timeframe or bigger picture. Everything unfolded in an organic, innocent, pure and harmonious flow, like a stream meandering towards the ocean. It just was, and when it ended, it just wasn't any more. I could easily let it all go, to blow away in the wind.

I loved this alone time. I was curious about everything, and because I didn't expect anything, I was never disappointed.

I was completely and utterly absorbed in happiness in those moments. Yes, I was being a child, but in hindsight this play was preparing me for life.

Then one day I wasn't that child anymore. Just like that, I had become an adult and had left behind those carefree days of wonder, simplicity and most of all, curiosity. It seemed I had outgrown my favourite outfit and left it discarded on the floor because it didn't fit anymore.

In my late teens and early twenties life happened to me, not through me, and for the most part I felt lost, unhappy and was left hopelessly wanting to be somewhere else.

Those words, 'You don't know what you've got until it's gone', really rang true for me. I had lost my childlike innocence and curiosity. Things had become way too serious, and I was mindlessly running on autopilot, studying, working and striving to fulfil unrealistic expectations that I mostly set for myself.

Until I found yoga. Or perhaps it was yoga that found me when I was in my early twenties? I gradually began surrendering to a comforting pull towards something that felt innocent, pure, raw and authentic once more. Over time I started to have glimpses of that same sense of freedom and flow. I was able to move easily through the practice, rising to the challenges while also sinking into the comforting space of relaxation and self-awareness. I witnessed life flowing though me as an actual felt sense, rather than just being played out through thoughts and concepts. When I was on my mat, I was literally moving experiences and emotions through my body, and it felt so empowering! Yoga allowed me to embody life on all levels, helping me to cope with all of its challenges and graces. I had these moments of profound stillness and inner peace that took me beyond my mind and thoughts, and into a place that felt real and whole again. Just like I'd felt as a young child at play.

In those moments I was right back in my childhood fantasy world again, but ironically it was real, organic and fluid. My adult self knew how to navigate this familiar landscape, and I found myself playing again in the simple flow of the stream that kept meandering towards the ocean of calm. I felt safe and at home. Then the class would end, and I would be thrust out the door, back into life, a little stunned and often left yearning for that sense of inner peace once more. Curiosity lead me to take my practice outside into nature. My inner and outer worlds began to merge, which to my delight, I soon discovered is the whole point of yoga. I was becoming one with the greater flow, and my inner child got to come out and play freely again! Yippee!

This is just my personal story, and having embraced the yogic path for over thirty years now, means it's been a lifelong journey of exploration. That will, of course, be different for everyone whether or not you practice yoga. But I truly believe that anyone can find that innocent flow through practices that encourage an open-hearted, playful kind of presence. For some it may be through making music, painting, cooking, singing, playing tennis or even rearranging your sock draw! Whatever it is that brings you joy, that takes you out of your head, and into the realm of your heart and present, intuitive self, has the potential to transform your experience of life.

Whatever reminds you that it is enough to just be, rather than being something or someone, may be the catalyst for positive change.

Now, let's circle back to examine the relationship between yoga and childlike curiosity a little more deeply, shall we?

To the unfamiliar, curiosity and yoga may sound like an odd pair at first, especially given the long lineage of traditional teachings being passed down from its ancient roots in India. The science and philosophy of yoga brings often complex lists of Sanskrit names, concepts, countless cues and subtle details to remember and follow in order to find that 'just right' position for the body. Coupled with the correct breathing, balance and level of awareness, the subtle nuances of the mind may be revealed as well. This kind of knowledge isn't attainable overnight.

It takes dedication, discipline and regular practice, not to mention humility. It requires intention, open-heartedness, curiosity and trust. The kind of qualities we often see in children at play.

However, to some, this may seem anything but playful and simple on the surface!

But if we pause to consider what makes a child so full of wonder, it is the curiosity, and the innate capacity to step outside the logical mind that is continually striving for answers to life's perceived problems.

And that same playful, inquisitive spirit can transform your yoga, or any practice for that matter, into an almost holy experience.

My first yoga teacher always said,

There are many doorways into the same room of inner peace. You just need to have the right set of keys.

The Playground of the Present Moment

No, Yoga isn’t just about perfecting your downward dog or touching your toes. It’s about exploring! Imagine stepping onto your mat like a kid stepping into a new playground.

“What happens if I move this way? How does this stretch feel today? What if I breathe a little deeper? What would it feel like to move a little slower, or to pause for a while and just listen inwards?”

Curiosity and a sense of playfulness will keep your practice fresh. It turns the “I have to do yoga” into “I get to explore my body and mind today, and simply see what unfolds!”

Personally, it has taught me to replace judgement with curiosity, and most of all, it has given my life a sense of purpose and direction. The life that is right in front of my eyes, in my hands and beneath my feet, that is unfolding moment by moment, breath by breath, in all its uncontrived, pure, simple and often messy perfection. Not the life I think I should lead, but the one I am living right now. It allows me to just be me, existing in present moment, open, spacious awareness. It brings clarity and focus, and reminds me that those playful days of childhood are still always within reach for us all! Our grown-up arms are just a little longer now!

Yoga Poses as Experiments, Not Performances

Let’s be honest: social media can make it seem like yoga is a performance sport, focusing purely on the physical body and its outer appearance. But what if you approached each pose like a scientist running an experiment? “What happens if I shift my weight here? What if I engage this muscle, and let go of this other one instead?”

Curiosity helps you listen to your body rather than forcing it into some Instagram-worthy shape. Spoiler alert: Your body loves being listened to! It is the wisdom of the body that guides us deeper into the subtle layers of our biofield as well, to explore the breath & energetic bodies, the mind, and of course the intuitive realm of the heart & gut - known as the Koshas in yoga.

You might explore taking this relaxed approach towards any activity or practice you choose, whether it be for work or leisure.

Meditation: Replacing Judgement with Curiosity

For some, there may be a tendency to judge meditation as being tedious or even boring, especially for those who love to keep moving and doing. But to a curious mind, it’s an adventure. What do your thoughts do when you watch them instead of chasing them? What does silence actually sound like? Can you feel the space between your breaths, between your thoughts? Can you simply be still and feel sensation in different parts of your body, without creating a story about them?

Can you accept pain or tension simply as sensation? Energy that is being expressed in a certain way, rather than being labelled good or bad, comfortable or uncomfortable?

Can you ride the waves of experience until they change and evolve into something else? Can you pause for a few breaths and resist the habitual urge to scratch every itch, or to catch every ball that's thrown to you? Can you be curious enough to just watch, wait and see what arises without needing to comment, fix or change anything?

Can you be content to just be?

When you replace frustration with curiosity, even stillness becomes exciting. This is what is meant by 'allowing life itself to become the meditation'.

In a Nutshell: Stay Playful, Stay Curious, Stay Present

Yoga and meditation don’t have to be serious. Every aspect of life can be approached in this relaxed way if you choose. A lovely experiment might be to try treating all your experiences in this more playful and childlike way, like a game of “What if?”

What if today you approach your breath like a new discovery? What if you let go of expectations and just explore?

Curiosity doesn’t just make you a better yogi or a better human, but it will make life more vibrant.

So go ahead and let your inner child come out to play. You might be surprised by what you find!

Until next time, keep smiling, stay curious and give yourself permission to play a little with life. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain!

Sending kind blessings, love & peace your way! 🙏🏼

Sundãri ✨️🌞🪷✨️

(Danielle)

Ps. If you'd like to explore Yoga, Mindfulness, Ayurveda, Qigong, Sound therapy or energy healing with us, please reach out by replying to this email. We work individually or in groups, both in person or remotely from anywhere in the world.