It’s easy to get lost in what we think is real. We tend to focus on the concrete, the material, the sense-supported things (the seen, the touched, the smelled, the heard, the tasted). But even the most solid things can cause impulsive reactions, based on our opinions, beliefs, perceptions. A wall with certain words on it may “make” us feel angry, happy, sad, satisfied, impatient, etc., but it’s always just a wall.
That’s how we tend to experience life, responding to the stimuli around and within us. The words on the walls of our minds can have us spinning out of control internally. We are enslaved by our reactivity. We can spend our entire lives stuck, experiencing the same old patterns of conflict, resistance, judgement and thinking negative and fearful thoughts.
Yet there is space. I remember learning in various art classes that the space between the objects is just as important (and maybe more important) than the objects. The same is said about music, the space between the notes is just as important to the composition.
The practice of yoga connects us with space through the practice of self-control. Controlling the breath, the body, the personal and social practices, and concentrating the mind leads us to space. In meditation we discover that there is space between the words and thoughts. At first, the space may be a quick blip, hardly noticeable. But with time, the usual thoughts and stories become boring. The space between them becomes more interesting and accessible.
Through these practices, we are guided within and face all the issues that limit us. We discover that there is only one moment, and it makes sense to fully occupy one moment at a time. We discover that Open feels much better than closed. We become better able to act, make positive choices, take risks, explore life with interest, curiosity, and competence.
Yoga provides us with the tools needed to control ourselves. It shows us that the only thing we can control is ourselves. It provides relaxation and stress management. It supports silence. It provides us with the flexibility to accept the uncontrollable. It moves awareness to the internal, where there is much to learn, much to untangle, much to heal. It shows us that awareness is the only thing needed to heal.
The exploration of the internal space leads to freedom.
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