In the beginning of The Yoga Sutras (circa 200 BCE), author Patanjali explains that yoga is both the practice and the result: controlling the mind. Through mental control, he advises, the yogi is united with their true nature.
It would be hard to argue his point. Life happens in the mind, and if we don't pay attention to our life experience, we are essentially sleep walking.
Yoga shows us how we are functioning. It shows us how the experience of life can improve. It gives us the tools to change. It reminds us that "how" is far more interesting and informative than what, when, where, and with whom.
Just as yoga is the practice and the result, so too is courage: courage is required, and courage is the result. It isn’t easy to stop what we are doing to study how we are doing it.
Yoga provides an eight-fold path in which to study ourselves, so that there is an opportunity to practice “how” in every moment. The first limb involves social ethics, and how we treat others (and ourselves), through kindness, honesty, not stealing, moderation, and generosity. The second involves personal practices, and how we conduct ourselves: cleanliness, contentment, discipline, self-study, and surrender. The third is the physical practice of poses. Forth is a practice of breath control. Fifth is sitting quietly, for the opportunity to look within. Sixth is concentration on a mantra, image, breath, etc. Seventh is surrendering and releasing the connection with the mind and its stories. Eighth is said to be pure bliss, a full unification with the True Self.
Each limb of the path work together. Many yogis share that the most helpful thing they have learned from yoga is how to breathe. The poses and breathing practices correct problematic breath habits. Nourishing the body with oxygen is a powerful and effective tool for calming the mind.
Learning how to stand properly on the mat (mountain pose) is a skill that can be practiced anywhere. Waiting in line can become a relaxing pleasure, instead of a frustrating contraction, when we focus the mind on all the important mechanics of alignment, posture, and breath.
Practicing new body positions on the mat can trigger discomfort and fear, and also provides the tools to manage discomfort and fear. Those acquired tools support us off the mat.
Watching how we conduct ourselves privately or with others is illuminating. As Jesus preached to love one another, it’s curious to see just how difficult that simple task is. While we may wish to be kind to others, we have much to learn when we aren’t.
Sitting quietly is an opportunity to watch the mind and return it (over and over and over) (and over) to the focus of attention. The practice of returning the mind repeatedly to the focal point will eventually lead to a natural, easy mental stillness. Just as falling out of a pose teaches balance, watching the mind fall out of attention leads to stillness.
Yoga is a practice of How we are doing, which means it’s a practice of awareness. If we don’t pay attention, if we don’t take an active interest in how we are doing life, life will “do” us—without our knowledge, control, or consent.
As always, it comes to this: to open our hearts, minds, and bodies, we must examine everything that closes. Awareness is how.
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