It’s amazing how many layers there are to life. Yoga helps us become more attuned to the subtle levels, even as we work with the physical.
In asana, if you move from the subtle – from the breath, your ability to create harmony in your practice is so much clearer. In contrast, if you forget about the fullness of who you are and just focus on the physical, the practice tends to harden and freedom is more elusive.
Your body is one of your greatest teachers.
I’d like to share a little story with you.
Last year I took a training with John Friend in Sarasota, Florida. One of the days I spent my lunch break swimming in the calm, clear, lusciously blue Atlantic Ocean. It was one of those picture perfect, blue sky experiences that make you so grateful to be alive.
While I played in the push and pull of the gentle waves, marveling at the expanse of ocean and the spaciousness of sky, a pelican glided down to rest on the water not far from me. I don’t know if you’ve seen a pelican fly before, but they are so totally graceful in the air with their wide wingspan. This pelican and I shared long minutes regarding each other before it took to the sky again.
When I returned to the afternoon session of the training I was beaming. I felt so energized, and so excited to be alive.
Have you felt your emotions and energy shift because of the vibes others are putting out? Sometimes this is uplifting, such as when you ride upon the excitement or happiness of another. Sometimes, however, it can be a struggle to not be brought down by a person who isn’t feeling their best.
What generally happens when we need to protect ourselves is we harden on the outside. We get defensive and tighten up. This outer tension can cause physical and emotional discomfort, and, more often than not, it is accompanied by less than optimal posture. When we contract like this, it is very difficult to stay centered, and we are less likely to be of service to others. Also, in this contracted state, we loose the expansive perspective that allows us to see what is really going on.
The other day I got off the highway on the way to yoga class and there was an elderly black man with a sign on the side of the road. I didn’t have anything to give him. When he looked at me I placed my hands together in front of my heart, bowed my head to him and said a silent prayer. He got it. I drove away crying.
Through the emotions that came, I found my way back to the teaching that we are, all of us, expressions of divinity. God is playing in manifestation as you and me. As that man on the side of the road. As the hardships and also as the beauty and harmony.
The last time I heard Deepak Chopra speak, I was inspired and deeply satisfied by the way he explained the physics of spirituality. He reminded me, in a way I hadn’t considered before, how everything is in a constant cycle. Dr. Chopra described how, at an atomic level, we are literally one with everything else. Each time you breathe out, you send very tiny parts of yourself out into the world. Each time you breathe in, you welcome molecules that were once a part of trees, oceans, your neighbors, Gandhi…
The first breath of spring…
It whispers a deep truth of hope. It invites you to plant seeds and grow into the next grandest vision of who you are.
What is that visionWhat variety of life do you choose to flower into this season?
The first thing, the most foundational element of yoga and life is intention. By being clear with your intention, you breathe in the potency of it. By coming back to your intention over and over again, you align with it; you take the steps necessary to manifest it.
What is the essence of true power? What is the fundamental energy of the universe?
Love.
This great wonder pulsates through all of life. It feeds us and heals us. It takes us on grand adventures. It invites us to face our deepest fears, to transform ourselves, to serve others from the heart.
Have you felt the ways that yoga enhances your ability to love?
Chakras and yoga are intertwined. When you move in asana, or breathe in meditation, you affect the wheels of energy within that have so much influence on how you experience life.
The chakras are mysterious to most, yet so many people are curious about what they are and how to balance them.
Do you want to know more about the chakras and how they can help you heal? Here is an excellent resource for learning about Chakras, Yoga and Healing.
How do you tap into the consciousness of the Universe? The methods of divine communication are endless. Sitting still in meditation, truly listening to a friend, hearing the heart song of a bird, letting in the light of the sun, delighting in the sparkle of snow, heeding the inner voice of intuition, being a witness to the waves of emotion you experience as a human being…
When you do your next yoga practice, tune in to the messages that come. When your effort creates expansion, what do you learn about yourself and the nature of your experience? When your thigh is smoking in Warrior II, or your hamstrings scream-singing in a forward bend, can you be light hearted and breathe love into it? Can you laugh with the ever changing adventure of life?
In Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is one who seeks enlightenment for all beings, not just for him or herself. The wisdom of this choice is tremendous. It comes from an understanding that since all of us are connected, the true freedom we each seek can only be fully realized if ALL beings awaken.
Seeking enlightenment, or total wakefulness, for yourself is important. It gives you the calm, compassionate, centered perspective from which you can experience peace no matter what the situation. As you become more aware of the interconnectedness of all life, you naturally want to uplift others. There is an inner yearning, a divine desire to offer your efforts in service of the greater good.
