Archive for ‘Inspirations from Class’
Yoga Sutra 1.33- The Lighted Path
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
One of the many gifts of a yoga practice is the way we can find ourselves in the space of peace or equanimity. There are many ways to practice yoga, and yet often the end result is this space of peaceful ease, sometimes called grace or bliss. How delicious!
One of the ways to practice yoga is through studying the sacred texts, like the Yoga Sutras or the Baghavad Gita. I was recently reading Sri Swami Satchidananda’s translation of The Yoga Sutras and came across this advice, “Whether you are interested in reaching Samadhi (bliss) or plan to ignore Yoga entirely, I would advise you to remember at least this one Sutra. It will be very helpful to you in keeping a peaceful mind in your daily life. You may not have any great goal in your life, but just try to follow this one Sutra very well and you will see its efficacy.”
The Sutra he is referring to is 1.33. “By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and disregard toward the wicked, the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.”
Ah, can you imagine a sense of undisturbed calmness in your mind, body and spirit? Delicious! So what is Patanjali speaking of in this Sutra? He suggests that in your daily life you will come across people expressing 4 energetic forms. They are sukha or happiness, duhka or unhappiness, punya or virtuousness and apunya or wickedness. The keys he gives for maintaining your sense of well-being in light of these energies are friendliness, compassion, delight, and indifference or disregard.
As you come upon a happy person, find a sense of friendliness to them. Recognize that there may be some old habits which may create some other response to someone’s happiness other than friendliness. Apparently even 4000 years ago people would act in a less than friendly way when approached by other’s happiness. Take a breath and ignite in you a friendly response. It will be a selfless act that all, including you, will benefit from.
Patanjali then suggests that when you come upon an unhappy person, reach inward and ignite compassion for them. Your feeling of well-being will be energized by compassion, rather than being sucked out of you in feeling sadness or even empathy toward them. You certainly will not help others by becoming unhappy as well.
The third interaction is when you come upon one who is virtuous. How delightful to see true virtue being expressed, and to inspire it within you! Let virtuousness in others be the lighted path for you to follow, with a heart that sings delight.
Then lastly, what do you do when you are in the presence of wickedness? Indifference is the key, he says. This one can often be confusing, as we may believe he is suggesting that we do nothing about wickedness. Not true. He is saying that when in its presence do not react with anything else other than indifference when it is in your face, because any action you will take at that point will be like pouring oil on a fire. Once away from the wickedness, your actions, centered in your undisturbed calmness, will be virtuous, compassionate and friendly. What magic you will create!
Happy – Friendly Unhappy – Compassion Virtuous – Delight Wicked – Indifference
And away we go….
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Fairy Godmother or Dream Squasher?
Monday, December 19th, 2011
The power of Yoga permeates our practice no matter which angle we approach it from. As we stretch, breathe bigger, quiet the mind and/or challenge our bodies things begin to change. A broadening of ourselves cracks open and we begin to see new possibilities on many levels. What we believed to be impossible at one point in our lives begins to seem not only possible but is already happening in our lives and all around us. We begin to dream of new possibilities, and see them realized.
As I was biking the island yesterday I began to have these thoughts and images around how we relate to one another when it comes to dreaming. It seems that there is a cultural conditioning, which is well accepted, to be what I will call a Dream Squasher. We may not realize we have that habit, or condition. We may even validate our actions with reasoning like, “but I need to help them out so they don’t get hurt,” or “I need to speak my truth.” In the end what we are inflicting on one another is another opinion (often unasked for) that pulls the rug out from the dreaming process.
Do you recognize this behavior in yourself? Want to set it free? First recognize your habitual responses that start in the gut and find their way to your tongue that are less than supportive, or down right undermining. You’ll also need to be clearly aware of when someone is sharing a dream, notice your conditioned need to squash it, and take a breath.
Here is your time to step onto the platform called supportive. No Fairy Godmother (nor Godfather) leaves home without this bit of magic. If you want to become a Fairy Godmother then first you will need to learn to charge your responses and words with the magic of support, inspiration and empowerment. These powerful three are the fairy dust we all are brightened and encouraged by.
Support is the way in which we keep something or someone “upright”. We sustain and provide help when asked for, and belief in the dream. We even stretch our own awareness to see how this dream will and can become a reality.
Inspiration is a stimulus energy that helps the creative process to mature. It is like compost that nourishes the dreaming process. There is the moment when we first begin to share our dreams that catches our breath, and we await the next “inspiration.” The Fairy Godmother gets to stimulate that inspiration, that intake of new ideas, and breathes energy into it.
Empowerment is the fine art of creating space for power to be declared. We bring the quality of esteem alive by giving high regard and consideration to another’s ideas or dreams which is like hypercharging the concept. With great dexterity we step aside and create the space for the manifestation of another’s dream. Pow!
Our transformation is complete as we begin to hear our words transform from discouraging, disapproval, and disempowering to our magic 3 – support, inspiration and empowerment. Responds like, “what are you thinking”, or “did you consider…” become, “wow, that’s sounds wonderful” or “I love hearing how excited you are with this idea, and I know you can bring it alive with the passion you are feeling.”
As with many transformational processes, the “feel good” quality is symbiotic. The benefits are felt by both the dreamer and you. There is such a rush when you are dreaming your dream and someone else creates the space and energy for it to be realized. As you support another that rush flies through you as well. I guess that’s why it is often called divine. Here is to more of us on the path of Fairydom.
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Excersing Responds-Ability
Thursday, September 8th, 2011
Sitting there, take a breath and feel what is going on inside you right now. Can you feel your breath moving your physical body? Are there any thoughts flying around in your mind? Can you feel the response or reaction in your body? Excitement, irritation, tension, joy, a desire to strike out, run or hold your breath? What is the mind/body communicating you right now?
Each moment there are thousands of neurological activations happening in your body. Each thought generates an electrical spark, which has a chemical reaction and all of this is triggered by your personal Samskara (habit.) When we practice yoga, we become fine-tuned to all that is going on, and awakened to the response/reactions. Choice is born from that awareness, we become Response-Able.
Take another breath. What is happening now?
It is that practice in yoga that is the key to your transformation. When you become aware of what is happening now, and aware of what you are feeling, your choices broaden. When you are unaware of what is going on, your habits or conditional reactions will govern you. It is like the movie Groundhog Day, when everything just keeps repeating itself and you don’t know why nor do you like it. As you become more familiar with what is happening, what you are feeling, and what thoughts you are thinking you will begin to see the moment when a reaction can become simply a response.
Think of it this way, a response is the feeling you have about what is happening. It is the result of the stimulus in the moment. Have you ever heard a choir sing, and then the responds? That is what is happening in your body. The mind has a thought and the body sings the responds with a feeling. A reaction is what you are doing with that responds (and often it is not for the highest good.) We all have had those moments when we react to something, and then soon after regretted what we said or did. Would you like to avoid feeling regret?
Underlining the transition from a response to reactions is very often the inability to accept was is happening. This is a whole other subject for an article, but is key to this one as well. Accepting what is happening in a given moment can be so very tricky for some, as it implies that you are condoning it. Number ONE understanding of acceptance is that it is simply stating what is happening in the moment. It is neither condoning it nor stating that it will continue. When we can accept what is happening we simple see the presence clearly. From there we can make choices that serve us, and continue to amplify feelings that inspire us.
For instance imagine it is raining right now. If you start flying off the handle, not accepting that it is raining, how would you feel? What choices might you make? How wet would you be? On the other hand, when you accept that it is raining you may find your umbrella, enjoy the free car wash and be happy for the plants in your yard.
Learn to be more present in the feelings you are having, and let the response factor guide you. If what is happening in a given moment is creating a feeling just be with it. Be in the feeling and let your mind hear it. “I’m feeling _____________(name the feeling) right now.” Creating some space to observe the feeling before jumping into action gives you the opportunity to give a broadened perspective on it. Maybe all you need to do is feel it. Let your Response-Ability be exercised daily, simply take a breath and feel what is going on now.
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Receptivity
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
I’ve been observing the concept of receptivity lately, pondering its power and gifts. Teaching Yin yoga gifts me with the opportunity to explore receptivity, as it is one of the wonderful elements of Yin nature. Receptivity is the ability to be open and fully receive which allows us to live life in limitless ways, including well-being, ease, and prosperity.
As I am teaching I notice the great ability of many of our students to push through, to resist, to go up against with such tenacity. All of this is wonderful in its nature of Yang expressed physically, yet what about its counterpart? What is your ability to be whole and fully engaged in life like? Take a look at your receptivity ability.
Are you able to openly receive? Savasana is a wonderful pose to check in with your receptivity. Are you able to be alert or do you shut down during it? Check in the next time you are doing savasana and feel your sensitivity in the pose. As you settle into the pose invite your whole body to be receptive to the floor supporting you. Relax into the support and steadiness of gravity holding you to Earth. Receive each breath with ease, allowing a sense of flow to be dominate. Unravel the nature of Yang that may be showing up wanting to push away, shut down, or be active. Lie in the stillness and openly embrace it. Or at least watch the desire to get up and run!
Receptivity simply allows. It is the quality of life that embraces a friendly, approachable nature. It is inviting and allowing life. When we live life in its wholeness we can flow from Yin to Yang as each current situation or moment dictates. In clear awareness we can be blending our receptive nature with our ability to repel. Being or doing, it’s your call every moment of the day. May you explore receptivity today, and discover its innate nature and gifts.
Tags: recepetivity, savasana, Yin Yoga
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Samskara
Monday, March 7th, 2011
“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we are not really living. Growth demands a temporary surrender of security.”
Gail Sheehy
As a teacher I find it a gift to share concepts and philosophy along the yoga path. Recently I have been inviting students to explore the path of transformation, as they find themselves in Samskara.
Samskara in Sanskrit means acquired subliminal impressions, or habits. I like to call them ruts. The vision for me is that we find our way that works for us in a given moment, and then travel it day after day. In the beginning we do it with some awareness and because it benefits us at that time. Slowly we start to just do it because we have been.
After a time we stop being aware of the reason we initially choose to do it, eventually the rut gets so deep that we can’t even see that there might be another option, or that situations have changed. The ruts become valleys over our awareness. Life becomes dim.
One of the many gifts of yoga is the time we spend reflecting on ourselves. We gift ourselves with this time to simply see ourselves, free of judgment. We notice things and begin to see a pattern, Samskara.
It could be a breathing pattern, a way we react in a given situation that might not always be in our best interest, or something that continually causes us suffering. Moksa! In that moment of awareness we find the crack of light that leads us to Moksa (freedom/liberation).
Liberation begins when we see the Samskara. In the light of that awareness we start to see that there are other possibilities. Maybe we breathe a deeper breath. Or we might try a new direction. Just as we do in our asanas (poses), we attempt something new and discover the joy of flexibility. Don and I often refer to this experience of the “yummy of living.”
Take your yoga practice off the mat this month, and stretch yourself in your life patterns. Go ahead try something new, and see what happens. Lokah!
Tags: yoga, Yoga Philosophy
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