Day 130 Intention ~ Practice Yoga Off the Mat

Day 130 Intention ~ Practice Yoga Off the Mat

I've been thinking about my yoga practice a lot lately. Although, I do some practice off the mat, when I really think about the eight limbs of yoga in Patanjali's yoga sutras, I try to think about adapting them to my daily life. 

How much are we all really practicing? 

For review, the eight limbs taken straight from my Yoga Sutra book translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda:

• yama (abstinence)
• niyama (observance)
• asana (posture)
• pranayama (breath control)
• pratyahara (sense withdrawal)
• dharana (concentration)
• dhyana (meditation)
• samadhi (contemplation, absorption, or superconscious state)

To really bring consciousness to my practice off the mat (most of us already get the third limb asana), I will start with the yamas today. This first limb has five parts to it and these are all things that we should abstain from in our behavior. 

The five parts of the yamas: 

• ahimsa: non-harming
• satya: truthfulness
• asteya: non-stealing
• brahmacharya: continence
• aparigraha: non-greed

As far as ahimsa goes, I eat a vegan diet so as not to harm animals and be a little less harmful to the environment. I try to be environmentally responsible when possible. And I also try not to harm others with my words, thoughts and actions.

Satya, that is easy. I try to tell the truth at all times...to myself also! Don't get me wrong, if the truth is a mean statement, I most likely don't say anything at all. 

Asteya, or non-stealing. This one seems pretty straight forward and easy. Don't steal! Even if it's a pen from work or stealing time from others. 

Brahmacharya: continence. Well, in the Western world we translate this into moderation. Live in moderation. I try to do this, although, sometimes when there's a bag of Terra sweet potato chips in front of me, forget about it! :)

Lastly, aparigraha, non-greed: just take what you need. (see last paragraph, I try!) Whether it's shoes, food, time, love, whatever it is, don't hoard it. If you have enough, save some for the rest. The less "stuff" you have, the clearer your mind can be. Less clutter.

So, there's my list to start working on! Just becoming more conscious of these things (we'll go through some of the other eight limbs in future days), can help us actually live our yoga. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 86 Intention ~ Be True

Day 86 Intention ~ Be True

PYS II:36 - Satya Pratisthayam Kriya Phalasrayatvam.

To one established in truthfulness, actions and their results become subservient. 

Satya means truthfulness. It is one of the yamas, or ethical guidelines in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. As Swami Satchidananda describes it in his book interpreting the Yoga Sutras, "With establishment in honesty, the state of fearlessness comes. One need not be afraid of anybody and can always lead an open life. When there are no lies, the entire life becomes an open book. But this comes only with an absolutely honest mind." 

So, being true in words, actions, and thoughts. The more we are true, the easier it becomes. For a yogi, even telling little white lies must end. The mind must become clear and true in order to see the bigger Truth in ones Self. 

Pattabhi Jois is known for saying, "Practice and all is coming." This also applies to practicing the yamas and niyamas...and speaking, feeling and living the truth. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 45 Intention ~ To Lead With a Pure Heart

Day 45 Intention ~ To Lead With A Pure Heart

Happy Valentine's Day! In honor of that, although, it is important to do this everyday, today especially, I am going to lead with a pure heart. 

In the yoga sutras, sutra II:41 reads, 

Sattvasuddhi Saumanasyaikagryen Driyajayatmadarsana Yogyatvani Ca.

This translates to, "Moreover, one gains purity of sattva, cheerfulness of mind, one-pointedness, mastery over the senses, and fitness for Self-realization."

In regards to this sutra, Swami Satchidananda says, "First you understand the body, then the heart is purified as well. When the heart is pure, you are always happy...Just be pure in thought, word, and deed." He says if we practice this purity for even just one day, we will feel the reward and hopefully will be encouraged to practice it again and again. 

So, today, I am going to lead with a pure heart and mind and hope that you will too. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Pratyahara: the silence within

In yoga there are many things to learn. The asasna are the third limb of yoga and before them come the yamas and niyamas. Two paths to talk about the restraints and practices in our every day life.

The first two paths of yoga are there to help us set a structure for how we are to live our life, because when we do not have structure we fall apart. Chaos creeps in and we can get lost - distracted by shiny objects in life.

Asanas help us to keep our temple in shape and pranayama teaches us to use our breath to use that strength internally as the asanas help us use it externally.

Today I would like to talk about Pratyahara - the 5th limb of Yoga - which is the control or withdraw from the senses.

In our modern society we are over stimulated from the moment we wake to the moment we go to bed. Television, computers, smart phones, radios and everything else in between - our mind never has a moment to breathe. Suddenly we are unable to follow our gut, because we can't hear it any more. Shiny objects that distract us from what's inside.

I the silence that lies inside of us are all the answers and the truths to what we have been asking all these years. Seeking answers out of our own being will only generate more questions, lead to confusion and steer us from the path we were destined to follow. Because the truth is, we really are all here for a reason - we all have purpose and yes, there is room for all of us.

Those moments of fear we all have, that voice in our head that says things like, "But there are 27 others who do what I do! There is no room for me!" that voice in your gut, the one you hear when you practice Pratyahara will answer, "But you are you and that makes it different. No one can life the life you are meant to live. Just you."

Stepping away from the self, from the noise, from what you think you should be doing and helps you see who you really are. Meditation, pratyahara, washed away the worry of every day life.

Yoga Sutra 2.54: "When the senses withdraw themselves from objects and imitate, as it were, the nature of the mind-stuff, this is pratyahara."

Yoga Sutra 2.55: "Then follows supreme mastery over the senses."

Through the practice of pratyahara you will bring all of your senses in control - this control will lead to the freedom to be happy all the time. No longer relying on temporary happiness brought to us by food, television or even sex - we can find the true voice inside.

To quote Sri Swami Satchidananda, "If we have that control, [over our senses], we can do whatever we want, find peace and joy within and share the same with all humanity."

Spend 30 minutes a day to sit in silence, allow the mind to drift and find that inner peace that lies in all of us.

Have a blessed week! The light & strength in me honors the light and strength in you.

~Namaste