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Dear all,
Many people come to yoga at first for the physical aspect and only later they start to recognize the deep spiritual effect it has on their lives. Yoga is a one of the keys to the door of our consciousness. And it is the path I have chosen.
Asana is the third in Patanjali's eightfold yoga path just after the Yama (precepts of social discipline) and Niyama (precepts of invididual discipline). Asana is the “ABC” we need to learn if we want to move forward towards Pranayama, Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses) Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (super conscious state).
For me the practice of asana is not about challenging my body into intricate positions but about making the cells of my body vibrate at a higher vibration. While doing a yoga position, I am looking for the edge where it is the most beneficial for my body and I do this with detached awareness, without getting involved. I am simply a spectator watching the experience. I observe my breathing, my muscles moving, my bones, my spine, energy movement in my body and the emotion arising, what I am feeling and sensing with detachment, exploring my interior landscape.
I am deeply grateful to have an able body but I am learning to not identify with it. I enjoy it but it is not me. It is my instrument to experience this life time. I am consciousness born in body with a mind. I am the detached observer of my mind and body. In order to be aware of this I must quiet my mind. I practice yoga to discipline my mind and balance what Patanjali calls the modification (vritti) of the mind (Citta): desire (Manas), ego (Ahamkara) and intellect (Buddhi).
Yoga citta vrtti nirodah
Tada drastuh svarupe avasthanam
Yoga is the equilibrium of the modification of the mind
Then the Seer abides in his own nature.
Our yoga mat is a good place to begin to understand this. We've got to start somewhere right? The mat is a microcosm of the world where can learn to be the detached observer of our practice. Whatever behavior we have on the mat, we will later apply it in the world.
We are consciousness witnessing the experience of the body, the breath, the mind and the all sensations.
I am happy to announce that I will be leading a retreat next april at Kumara resort in Ubud. I shall update my own website regarding this retreat shortly in the meantime you can click here.
In peace and light,
Linda
about the location To view a map how to get the sanctuary, click here... |
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