Does your life ever feel empty, as though there's a missing ingredient that you can't seem to name? You may be going through all the right motions, but there's still that dissatisfaction and void. Your body is moving and busy, your mind is stimulated, and yet the emptiness won't disappear. If you're only feeding your body and mind, then that part of you called your soul could be starving. You just might be living an empty, two-dimensional life by not adding a spiritual dimension that pays attention to the needs of the soul. It has been said that man was created with a God-sized void that only a relationship with our creator can fill and satisfy.
This same principle can be applied to your yoga experiences. Do you practice 3-D yoga, or is something missing from your yoga practice? Do you move through familiar postures while your mind is wandering through the dark labyrinth of the past? Or are your thoughts off and running to plan a future which may never occur? Even if you're fully focused in the present moment while you practice yoga, you may still possibly feel that something is missing because your practice is still only two-dimensional---yoking only body and mind. What about the third, spiritual dimension?
If your mind is not focused on the experiences of your body and your breath then you're really just going through the superficial motions of yoga, which really isn't true yoga. According to Iyengar's philosophy, yoga without spirituality is only aerobic exercise after all. In order to be practicing what is referred to as yoga, all the parts of you---including your spirit---are fully engaged and yoked together in the present moment. Naturally, this becomes a clear choice and conscious intention of your practice---and your life! Otherwise, you're only going through the motions of living in 2-D!
These often subtle intentions as we practice yoking with our creator can add power and depth to our yoga journey. For example, as we flow from last week's "Cleansing Warrior" or Kriya Virabhadrasana, back through "Warrior I" and then into "Warrior III" or Virabhadrasana III tremendous spiritual significance can be attached to this week's position, but it must be a conscious choice. Carefully read the instructions on how to first move the body physically into this week's posture, then where to focus the busy mind, and finally how to connect spiritual significance to this strong and balanced yoga posture (asana.)
Next week we'll deal with the issue faith so that we can put on "the shield of faith." plf
This same principle can be applied to your yoga experiences. Do you practice 3-D yoga, or is something missing from your yoga practice? Do you move through familiar postures while your mind is wandering through the dark labyrinth of the past? Or are your thoughts off and running to plan a future which may never occur? Even if you're fully focused in the present moment while you practice yoga, you may still possibly feel that something is missing because your practice is still only two-dimensional---yoking only body and mind. What about the third, spiritual dimension?
If your mind is not focused on the experiences of your body and your breath then you're really just going through the superficial motions of yoga, which really isn't true yoga. According to Iyengar's philosophy, yoga without spirituality is only aerobic exercise after all. In order to be practicing what is referred to as yoga, all the parts of you---including your spirit---are fully engaged and yoked together in the present moment. Naturally, this becomes a clear choice and conscious intention of your practice---and your life! Otherwise, you're only going through the motions of living in 2-D!
These often subtle intentions as we practice yoking with our creator can add power and depth to our yoga journey. For example, as we flow from last week's "Cleansing Warrior" or Kriya Virabhadrasana, back through "Warrior I" and then into "Warrior III" or Virabhadrasana III tremendous spiritual significance can be attached to this week's position, but it must be a conscious choice. Carefully read the instructions on how to first move the body physically into this week's posture, then where to focus the busy mind, and finally how to connect spiritual significance to this strong and balanced yoga posture (asana.)
- Physically---After warming the muscles and joints in any vinyasa flow series, such as "Dancing Warrior" (See the January 4th blog.) or "Salutations to the Son" as described in the May blogs from last year, begin to flow back and forth with the breath by inhaling into "Warrior I", exhaling into the back bending "Kriya Warrior," and inhaling back into "Warrior I" and so forth.
- Then flow into "Warrior III" or Virabhadrasana III by exhaling from "Warrior I" by lowering the torso onto the right front thigh, hinging only at the groin and not bending from the waist, keeping the arms straight and the palms pressing together if possible. Inhaling to ground the right foot on all four corners, and lifting the internal locks or seals (pelvic floor and abdominal muscles) slowly exhale while pushing lightly off the back leg to lift it from the floor with a flexed foot and the toes pointing downward. Attempt to maintain square hips over the standing leg with the weight balanced over the balls of the right foot and not just on the heel. On the next inhalation engage the muscles of both legs, hugging muscle to bone and lifting the knee caps, while straightening the standing leg and gazing out over the thumbs of the hands. Feel the opposing forces (just like vectors in physics) of the hands stretching straight out in front of your body while the back leg and foot are actively pushing away through the heel and ball of that foot. This reaching with the arms and pressing back through the lifted leg will help to create the stability and balance needed to remain in "Warrior III" for 3-5 smooth breaths before switching to "Warrior I" on the left leg for the same number of breaths.
- If using a prop, such as a chair, you may be able to move slowly and cautiously into this one-legged, balancing position by inhaling all the body weight onto the right foot with the right knee aligned directly over the right foot. Then try exhaling to straighten the right leg, keeping the straight left leg back behind you and resting lightly on the chair behind for support. With each deep breath engage the abdominal muscles to stretch away from the back foot, and then exhale slowly while attempting to lower the torso until it's parallel to the floor as you lift the back leg up above the chair to practice supporting the weight with your own muscles.
- Mentally---Honor your physical body (After all, it does house the rest of who you are!) by mentally paying close attention to your physical limitations and sensations of balance. The depth and quality of your breath will function like a meter to tell you when you've reach your "edge"---that place before pain and rapid, ineffectual breathing. So pay attention to the breath! Try to use each inhalation to ground down equally into all four corners of the standing foot as the hands and arms reach actively away from the back leg and foot.
- Spiritually---The poised and powerful "Warrior III" posture (asana) can be likened to a warrior extending a sword in battle. We all go through "spiritual warfare" as we attempt to ward off the many temptations of life that can put us in a tail spin and derail our lives. (Just ask Tiger Woods, John Edwards, Bill Clinton, etc.) When practicing the "Warrior" flows from one to another, imagine yourself donning "the whole armour of God...to stand against the wiles of the devil "as described in the sixth chapter of The Book of Ephesians. Add a third and spiritual dimension to your practice by practicing this:
- The feet are firmly grounded and "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace."
- As you engage your abdominal "flying up locks" (call uddiyana bandhas in Sanskrit) located in your loins (the lower part of the back between the hip bones and the lower ribs) envision them "girdled with truth" and not evil lies.
- With each inhalation as the lungs fill with energy feel them expand against "the breastplate of righteousness" that can protect you from negative energy.
- As you exhale your raised hand onto the crown of your head in "Cleansing Warrior" remember that through faith you are donning "the helmet of salvation" through Jesus' death on the cross.
- When lunging forward to balance powerfully on one foot in "Warrior III", image holding "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..." to carry you through and out of all temptation.
Next week we'll deal with the issue faith so that we can put on "the shield of faith." plf
