I wonder who came up with these ideal forms anyway?
Brahmacharya
is the fourth of the Yamas, and one that does not come with out a bit
of misunderstanding and mystery. Lets look at this as our life force,
prana, energy, chi. How many times I find myself busy busy busy, yet
feel as thou I mindlessly spinned my wheels and accomplished nothing. I
flit from this task to that task, from here to there and by the end of
the day I am so exhausted yet feel like I have nothing to show for it.
One of my favorite tricks is to rearrange my studio, or house, I always feel so accomplished, have something to show for it. Sometimes this is a wise use of energy other times it is energy that could be better used else where. Why do we this? Avoidance, addictions, habits come to mind. For me it is as much about being able to say "See! Look how hard I worked and what I did!" My practice has slowly begun to allow me to be OK with my efforts even if there is nothing to show for it. It does not always mean that my time was unproductive as I am using my prana to express myself, on and off the mat. It is the precarious pursuit of needless pleasure and ideals that creates havoc and is a wasteful use of energy both on and off the mat. In our practice it is easy to get hung up on striving for the ideal form in an asana, and a waste of precious energy as that "ideal" form may not be what is best in your body. I wonder who came up with these ideal forms anyway? The ego has no place in our practice and uses up energy that can be better used somewhere else.Judging the efforts of your practice should not be done based on how advanced you are in your asana practice. Rather ask yourself am I more compassionate, passionate, sincere in my life. One of my teachers always says, "the way you do anything is the way you do everything", wise words from a wise soul.Set your intention today to use your resources wisely and to your fullest. Notice as you move thru your practice are you unnecessarily asking other parts of the body to work, taking energy away from those that are truly needed in the asana. Are you striving for an ideal that physically is not available to you today. Be efficient with your effort in each asana, let your breath be your guide. If you find yourself holding or huffing with the breath, this is a good indication that you are not using the energy of your body wisely and the end result will not be what you are striving for.Feel the breath move throughout the full perimeter of your body, evenly filling you up with each inhale and letting go with each exhale. The intention to is to find maximum result with minimum expenditure of energy, prana, chi.This type of practice is actually more advanced then a practice of go go go push push push rush rush rush. Enjoy the pause as you allow your awareness to change shapes with each asana. The ebb and flow of full awareness is lost the minute you think if one I could stretch that hamstring deeper, or flex further. Each asana is a full body asana and requires full attention to the full body.As you leave your mat today continue the practice of Brahmacharya by using your resources wisely and to their fullest. Consciously choose to use your energy to express your true self rather then striving to be someone or something that is not authentic, not genuine. Observe wants verses needs and allow yourself to discern, maybe pass on that extra helping or pair of shoes.Be all that you are, fully and completely as you possess the resources to life a full and complete life.See You on the Mat!The Yamas, the foundation of your yoga practice and the first of the 8 limbs of yoga. There are 5.
|
 |
|||||||||||||
 
Categoriesasanabalance breath chakra injury karma, meditation patience perception practice touch yoga yoga alliance yoga, accountability |
|
 |
|||||||||||
    |
|||||||||||||
