YOGA AND THE ENNEAGRAM -- TYPES TWO & THREE

 NOTE:  I started this September series on the Enneagram and Yoga on September 2.  Please go here for an introduction to the Enneagram and a list of resources for more info.  I won't repeat that information in each post, but it's important for you to have. Thanks. 🙏🏽

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Let's continue to explore the Enneagram Personality Types by taking a look at our TYPE TWOS AND THREES.

TYPE TWO:  Often identified as "The Helper" or the "The Caretaker".  TYPE TWOS need to feel loved and valued and like to show this positive regard for others as well.  They are patient, caring, adaptable, generous, and tuned into others' feelings.  They can express emotions easily and feel happiest when they can anticipate and meet others' needs. People like to be around Twos and feel safe and cared for in their presence. Twos tend to be friendly and supportive, always willing to lend a hand. They are the "best friend" to many.

Twos maybe have heard a message like this as a child: "You are good or okay if you are loved by others and are close to them."  The Twos basic need is to be loved.  They fear being unloved or unwanted for themselves alone.  They are so focused on this that they may become manipulative, making themselves unexpendable so they can stay in relationship.   They often put their own needs at the bottom of the list, perhaps losing touch with what might actually make them happy.  They might feel selfish and do not ask for what they want/need.  This can lead to anger and resentment that is hard for them to express, so it comes out "sideways" in moodiness or flashes of anger seemingly coming from nowhere.  Or their constant giving may manifest in exhaustion and withdrawal, which then makes them feel guilty for not doing enough --  a vicious cycle. 

I imagine the TYPE TWO in the Covid crisis might respond by reaching out to all the neighbors, making sure everyone has what they need, perhaps leaving gifts on doorsteps or offering to run errands or buy groceries for others.  They might feel overwhelmed by the crisis, but will continue to be available to everyone's needs without regard for their own emotional and physical well-being.  Their need to "help" puts them at the center of every personal crisis of those they care about, so the Covid issue is just one more problem to soothe.

Twos can move to a healthier profile by realizing they can't solve every problem for everyone else.  They can take a step back and evaluate what they themselves might need.  Twos often get overwhelmed and exhausted by their caretaking and can benefit from setting healthy boundaries and taking as much time to nurture themselves as they give to others.  They can feel like they are flying apart and need to become grounded in the here and now.

YOGA FOR THE TYPE TWO:

Grounding and core strengthening poses that put you in touch with your inner resources are great for Twos.   Stand tall in Mountain Pose, fully erect, grounded, and confident.  Stay still; breathe in this grounding and uplifting pose.  Perhaps a Plank Pose or a Boat Pose, both engaging the core, will remind you of your inner strength.  A strong Warrior II pose will help you find strength in setting boundaries.  Supported restorative poses are great for self-nurturing.

TYPE TWO is a very giving person, sometimes at their own expense.  If this is you, take a step back and learn to count to 10 before diving into a "rescue mission".  Your love and generosity are so needed in this world -- and you need those for yourself too.  Be as kind to yourself as you are to others.

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TYPE THREE:  Known as "The Achiever", this type is optimistic, confident, efficient, and industrious.  They like to set and achieve goals, striving toward the next big thing. They are generally successful in whatever they do, even if they have set backs.  They persevere.  Their personal accomplishments are admired by many. They often have, and enjoy, status in their social circles, workplaces, and community.  They are can be charismatic leaders who like to stand out.  Performers and politicians are among their ranks.

Threes may have heard messages in their childhood such as: "You are good or okay as long as you are successful and others think well of you."  They fear being worthless or without value.  Their basic desire is to feel worthwhile, accepted, and desirable.  Threes will push themselves hard to accomplish, which can lead to a feeling of alienation from themselves and others.  They are often workaholics.  They may appear distracted, aloof, and unemotional except for an "extroverted" nature in pursuit of their goals.  Success may manifest in being materialistic and/or focusing on their personal appearance.  They constantly worry about what others are thinking of them, needing praise and recognition to feel okay.

I imagine TYPE THREE in this Covid crisis gathering a team together to tackle a project.  They will use their powers of persuasion to organize a mask-wearing campaign or to support local restaurants by planning a weekly "to-go" night amongst people they know.  They will work tirelessly to try to deal with the crisis as positively and successfully as possible, at home and possibly on the job.  They will be models of perseverance but also may find themselves unable to access their emotions about this pandemic because they are so busy with tasks outside themselves.

Threes can move to a healthier profile by giving themselves a break to take time to relax and recharge. They often try to portray a successful image, but underneath feel insecure about being judged.  They would benefit from seeking out people they trust with whom they can be their vulnerable selves.  Creative outlets, just for the joy of creation, are good activities for Threes.  Being part of a team, not the leader, can also help alleviate the "must be seen and acknowledged" stress. 

YOGA FOR TYPE THREE:  

Threes can often spend much time in their heads, so they will benefit from heart-opening poses such as Cobra and Upward Facing Dog to bring them back to their body.  Their racing minds and stressed nervous systems on overdrive would benefit from a meditation and/or pranayama practice that calms and restores a place of peace and acceptance of what 'is', in this moment, not planning for the next.  

TYPE THREEs are optimistic with a "can-do" attitude.  They are resilient and can motivate others, and seem to love working tirelessly.  These are great traits!  But Threes often lose themselves (and their relationships) in workaholism and a quest for success.  If this is you, know that it's OK to step back, relax, and find a someone to be completely yourself with.  You are valued for YOU, not just what you do. ©

Namaste, donnajurene

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

YOGA AND THE ENNEAGRAM -- TYPE ONE

 INTRO TO ENNEAGRAM:

Class, who can tell me what the Enneagram is?  

Yes!  It's a system of identifying NINE different personality types (sometimes compared to the more well-known Myers-Briggs scale), which is reputed to have originated many centuries ago, but was popularized in Europe in the 1920s and the United States in the 1960s.

Pronounced ANY-a-gram, the Enneagram is represented by a circle with each "type" at one point on the circle.  The Enneagram posits that we develop a strategy for addressing and coping with early life experiences and family circumstances by using our natural talents and abilities.  Sometimes this is a good thing -- we develop healthy coping mechanisms.  Sometimes we go off the rails and our "type"functions in an "unhealthy" range of behaviors, especially under stress.  Most often people fall into an "average" range of response, which is all well and good, but could be better.  The Enneagram shows us a map for climbing out of the "unhealthy" range and growing toward increasing "health" and a better life all around.  (This is a gross oversimplification, but you get the idea.)  

Each of the NINE TYPES have distinct characteristics.  These basic types are influenced by the type which appears on the circle on either side of them, as well as those connected by a line across the circle, to further refine the type.  In addition, there are sub-types within each type....yes, it can get a bit confusing.  For our introductory purposes, we are sticking with the basic NINE.  

I have spent my Covid LockDown months taking a closer look at the Enneagram and find it fascinating.  I kept wondering why I was reacting to the current pandemic in ways that others were not.  What makes us face any challenge, or even every day life, so differently from others?  I turned to my rudimentary knowledge of the Enneagram and took a deeper dive.  I learned more about myself, and about others as well.  A lot of my questions were answered about how we can all face the same set of circumstances with vastly differing responses.  Then I discovered, hallelujia!, that Yoga can mesh nicely with Enneagram work!  Win-Win.

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So, let's dive in.  

TYPE ONE:  Often called "The Perfectionist" or "The Reformer".  Type Ones want to improve themselves and the world.  They are rational, self-disciplined, orderly, organized, fair, productive, reliable, ethical, and eager to get to work to change the world for the good.  They are problem-solvers and "fixers". They are hard workers and strive to get everything right.  

They may have heard messages as a child to the effect: "You are good or okay if you do what is right." So they want to be good and virtuous and fear being bad or evil.  Therefore, they can be very self-critical as well as judgmental and critical of others who they perceive as not trying as hard as they are.  They want to take charge, but also often feel they are doing all the work and getting no help or recognition. Their bodies can hold tension with tight muscles and they may be emotionally stressed, feeling they can never achieve their perfected ideal.

I imagine a TYPE ONE would face the Covid-19 pandemic by working hard:  They might see it as a time to tackle the "to do" list they always have going, basically ignoring the crisis and carrying on with tasks.  Or they might dive into the crisis by getting organized, collecting information from a variety of sources, making lists, making plans, trying to get others on board with their plan, coming up with a solid strategy and assuming all should do it their way because they know best, obviously, and they are genuinely trying to help so all will survive!  Ones are people of action: "Come on, gang! Do it my way!"And they get frustrated when their lead is not followed, because they thought it all through; they were rational, thorough, and complete, and well, often they are indeed right. Still....

Ones can move toward a healthier profile when they learn to relax, give up a bit of control and go with the flow, to accept that others have a different style, and that they, as Ones, are perfect as they are without having to prove anything.  They will benefit from knowing that it's OK to make mistakes and also OK to sometimes just be playful, spontaneous, and enjoy life as it is in the moment.

YOGA FOR THE TYPE ONE:  Have fun!  As part of your practice move into Tree Pose with a playful attitude.  If you fall, just laugh and try again.  Or give that pose up and try a Warrior Pose pretending to be a statue or an ancient Samuri.  Try some Laughing Yoga - just "fake laugh" until it becomes real.  Or maybe find a bit of peace from your striving and relax in Child's Pose, not moving or trying, just being.  NOT perfecting the pose and NOT pushing beyond comfort will benefit the ONE.

TYPE ONES put a lot of pressure on themselves and tend to be serious and goal directed.  If this is you, be gentle with yourself.  Do something spontaneous, silly, and fun.  You are perfect just as you are...really!  ©

Namaste,  donnajurene

Photo Credit:  www.pixabay.com

Resources:  There are lots of books, videos (some humorous!), podcasts (some better than others).  Many people have jumped on the bandwagon, so there are LOTS of people out there teaching with varying degrees of expertise.  I was surprised to find there is a strong Christian following of the Enneagram, but this is not an inherent part of Enneagram study by any means.  Just FYI in case you run across this slant on the study or are looking for it, it's there.

These are the sources I will use for this series; information cited is mostly from the first two books and the Yoga article:

The Enneagram Made Easy, Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele, Harper San Francisco, 1994. (This was my intro to the Enneagram and is a very simple, fun, basic introduction for a beginner.  It will help you figure out your Type.  But I highly recommend moving on to a more in-depth study such as the next book on this resource list.)

The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types, Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson, Bantam Books, 1999. (A great intro with depth, but still very accessible and helpful in learning how the Enneagram can foster personal insight and growth.)

Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery, Don Richard Riso with Russ Hudson, Houghton Mifflin, 1996.  (Riso and Hudson are the best known and recognized authors and investigators of the Enneagram.   I find this book dense, but full of great detailed info.  Would not be my introductory text, but for someone with a bit of knowledge or a desire to dive into the deep end, it's a classic.)

The Complete Enneagram, 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge, Beatrice Chestnut, PhD, SheWritesPress, 2013. (All the types, wings, subtypes -- how it all fits together and how to grow in each type to a more healthy place.  Lots of "how to" information to explore once one fully understands their type.)  

EnneagramInstitute.com  -- Yes! People get actually teaching degrees in this!  Explore this website; you can take the "official" test ($12) to learn your type, but there are plenty of free options out there as well. 

Creating a Yoga Practice with the Enneagram by Ali McGhee, August 28, 2015, YogaBasics.com

BACK-TO-SCHOOL COVID STYLE

Happy September! It's back-to-school month!  Kids, parents, and teachers are dealing with the new normal of "distance learning" via Zoom.   Some districts in some areas are doing a hybrid of in-person and and online.  

Same with Yoga Circle Studio.  Online classes have been available all summer.  Now there is an option of four students being able to come in person to the studio with the teacher who will be teaching online simultaneously.  I'm happy Yoga Circle is large enough to accommodate a few in-person students.  My son is a local Park District Recreation Supervisor and they had to cancel their in-person classes when a new rule was implemented in August stating a requirement of 300 sq. feet of space per person.    

I'm also happy the online option is still available!  I'm not yet comfortable returning to indoor settings for anything except grabbing groceries, and mostly it's my husband who is the shopper. Reading now about the spread of Covid-19 through aerosols (teeny tiny little sprays that come from our mouths when we breathe, talk, laugh, cough, sneeze) and how they float in currents in the air, or hang in one place depending upon the indoor ventilation efficiency and direction of air flow makes me crazy!  On top of everything else, will we all have to become ventilation experts?!?  

There are science-backed measures we all should be taking (some are not, however) such as wearing a mask, washing those hands, keeping at least 6 feet apart, and not going to big gatherings, especially indoors. (The coming fall/winter/holiday season will be a new challenge!)

At a certain point, it's a leap of faith I guess.  Many people seem perfectly comfortable, and have throughout this period of time, with trusting their immune systems, the fates, God, whatever flavor of "expert" they've decided to follow.  I guess I'm a skeptic and and bit of a worrier.  I like knowing all the facts, studying the data, erring on the side of caution.  We are all built differently in that regard. 

I hinted a couple of posts ago that I want to explore how our personalities might inform our decision- making about health and so much more.  I want to explore how yoga can work in tandem with various personality types to help us best address our type's needs.  

Part 1 of Yoga and the Enneagram is coming soon and will continue throughout this month.  Be ready to learn!  It's back-to-school month!

Namaste, donnajurene

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

YOGA NIDRA -- WAKEFUL SLEEP RENEWAL

Today was Yoga Nidra day at Elizabeth's Zoom class. I forgot again. I think it's a trick my brain plays on me. My first few experiences with Yoga Nidra were not positive, so I decided (consciously) that I don't like it; it's not for me.  Since that time I've actually had some very pleasant experiences, but that early declaration is stuck in my head, so when I know it's coming up (4th Wednesday of the month), I tend to avoid that class.  Except....

A few times, including recently when we are meeting online, I forget. I show up and Elizabeth announces it's Yoga Nidra day and I am surprised, even though I can read a calendar as well as anyone.  I think my UNconscious mind is looking out for me.  That mind knows I'll benefit even if I don't know it!

Yoga Nidra is a practice often called "Yoga Sleep Meditation".  Elizabeth starts with a 45 minute gentle asana practice to stretch and strengthen the large muscles of our bodies to prepare us for a 30+ minute lying or sitting meditation.  During that meditation, after we gather extra props to ensure maximum comfort and relaxation, she guides us through the 5 koshas (you don't have to know what this is to benefit!) beginning with a detailed body scan, then suggesting images of disparate objects to bring to mind...and then other stuff, because frankly I'm so deeply in a state of relaxation by then that I hear her voice and follow along, but afterwards I'm not entirely sure where she took me.  I just know how quiet, calm, and at peace I feel in that state.   

I am NOT asleep in the traditional sense -- this is a wakeful sleep.  That makes no sense, right?  It will.  Eventually.  Like I said, it didn't work for me at first.  Lying on my mat I was physically uncomfortable, distracted, agitated.  Then Elizabeth suggested sitting on a chair.  That was better for me.  But what has been BEST is to do this practice at home, via Elizabeth's Zoom class, sitting in an upholstered chair in my bedroom, feet on a bolster, blanket over my lap, eye shade covering my eyes.  I feel myself sink into the moment almost immediately.  

This morning I started on Day 3 of grieving all the losses of this Covid Summer -- concerts, ballgames, fairs and festivals, trips, friends, grandkid sleepovers...just the ease of the pre-Covid life where distancing and masks and hand sanitizer were unheard of.  As summer nears its end, I am already anticipating even more restrictions as the cold and rain drives us indoors again.  So, my emotions have been volatile and there have been lots of tears.  I want to hug my grandkids!!!

So, I switched on my computer for class rather reluctantly.  I wanted to just skip it and wallow in sorrow some more.  But my husband urged me to show up for the class, reminding me that Yoga always helps.  He's right of course, and when the first words I heard were: "Good Morning! It's Yoga Nidra Day." I didn't feel a sinking sensation of reluctant acceptance.  I felt relieved.  I felt nurtured.  I knew it was exactly what I needed.

I write this now, 2 hours post-class time, still floating on the cloud of renewal.  I know there are sorrows, but they do not consume me.  The sun is shining.  There is a cool breeze blowing across the back deck where I write.  I'm looking forward to a long walk with my husband at the waterfront later this afternoon and a simple summer supper on the deck tonight. I feel gratitude.

Sorrows come and go.  We watch them.  Happiness comes and goes.  We watch it.  Life happens to us and around us.  We watch it.  The Watcher, the Seat of our Soul, remains constant.  And when we forget what's best for us, we are reminded.  Over and over and over again.  

Namaste,  donnajurene

(Link to an article about Yoga Nidra and the 5 Koshas: https://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-nidra-and-the-five-koshas

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com