Yin yoga finding exquisite stillness

What is Yin Yoga?

Yin yoga is based around non-rhythmic and still poses. The postures are held for a sustained period of time in a mindful and gentle way. Specific sequences are designed to target meridian channels. This makes yin yoga a fusion of yoga poses with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles. Both traditions have an implicit understanding of energetic pathways in the body. In yoga there are 72,000 nadi channels or energy pathways and of these 108 are considered significant whereas in TCM there are 14 major organ meridians. Yin yoga sequences explore deep parts of the body stimulating, massaging and distributing the flow of energy along these meridian channels.

The workshop in August focused on kidney and bladder organs and meridians while September we mapped out and explored the liver and gall bladder organs and meridians.

 

In the this late spring intensive, we will explore restorative poses that focus on moving energy (prana) and information (citta) through the physical organs: stomach and and spleen. This is followed by a sequence of yin yoga poses to massage and stimulate the stomach and spleen meridians. There will be a handout accompanying this workshop. 

See you there,

Om shanti,

Margot 

Gratitude

Everyday is a chance to be grateful for the small yet simple things.

I keep a gratitude journal and I record five things I am grateful for. Often there are doodles in there, pictures and quotes. My five for today are the sun, fresh strawberries straight from the garden, trees and amazing moss.

Light and laughter,

Margot

Niyama: Isvara pranidhana

The last niyama is Isvara pranidhana or devotion to the divine.

Yoga is not always presented as a theistic philosophy yet isvara in Patnajali's sutras is simply the divine or om. Krishnamacharya as described by his son as lord or divine. The idea of god or the divine resonates with some but not all and can potentially put people off coming to a yoga class.

I am always reminded of the story of Hanuman the monkey deity. Hanuman came across Rama and knew immediately that this was a divine being. Hanuman dedicated himself to Rama and his consort Site. One day Sita was kidnapped by the ruler of  Sri Lanka. It is said that he leapt from India to Sri Lanka in devotion to capture Sita and bring her back. And so he did. The pose above hanumanasana thus represents dedication, devotion and an willingness to not think of self. It represents the leap into faith.

Chapter 1 verse 23 states that devotion to the divine is a key pathway to enlightenment. Pranidanah is often translated as 'throwing down' or 'surrender'. I have not studied sanskrit, however, my understanding of this translation is specifically throwing down the ego. I try to see my salutes more as prostrations and remind myself each time to simply surrender and let go to a greater force. To let go of ego is a huge challenge after all this is what gets us out of bed and doing things. It appears that we must let go of any outcome before we even begin the action. Wow - what a challenge! Minding the mind with each and every action and breath.

Niyamas: Svadhyaya

Patanjali makes it clear in 1.2 of the yoga sutras that yoga is the ability to direct the mind on one object and keep it there fora sustained without destractions. In Buddhism, this sense of self or being separate -  the much lauded individual in the modern world -  is considered the cause of all suffering. That's right our suffering is created by ourselves and thus by extension can be eliminated by us (with lots of work). Much of the suffering is the mind wandering here and there, past and future, everywhere yet no where.  How much of our suffering could be avoided if we could just see everything as one: everything connected like a huge web spirally out and back in again. A vortex of being rather than attachment and aversion.

How to do this? Well I like Judith Lasater description of yoga as the study of the self. The study of the strengths and weaknesses of the self, the habits and patterns of the self, and the different aspects of the self can be observed on our mat every day and then as they fan out into the world. Watching your thoughts in a formal practice of meditation can help us to see how busy the mind really is.  I was listening to a talk about Zen Buddhism and they referred to the mind as a tiger that will eat you up and take every moment of your life. The practice of observing your thoughts quietly on your own can make it easier to recognise unhelpful or habitual patterns during the course of the day in communicating with others. Of course, as humans we fall over, blame someone else or ourselves, get angry, hold on to resentment, behave in ways we wished we hadn't but all this is okay because each time we notice we are experiencing a moment of awareness. A moment of awareness that can help us to see ourselves in others and forgive ourselves and them in a single breath. I'll keep working on that for the rest of my life - unwinding the self: seeing ourselves in others and in the world.

While yoga may be a method that helps us to unravel our sense of our self, I think any activity could serve this purpose: knitting, cooking, gardening, reading, singing. Any activity that helps us to see our reality as a mirror of the interconnectedness of everything. 

As science and our hearts keep telling us we are the world and the way we live in the world affects all - the plants, animals, people, water and the air.  

Om shanti,

Margot

 

The 8 limbs of Yoga: Niyamas - Svadhyaya

                                                                            Mandala by Margot Porter

 Svadhyaya - The study of oneself

Svadhyaya is the conscious and considered study of oneself. This means that swadhyaya could be any activity that enhances a self-reflective consciousness. Each person will be attracted to an activity that best allows them to discover their true self: writing, gardening, playing an instrument, volunteer work, meditation. Yoga can be the activity used as an opportunity for studying yourself - your habitual thoughts, patterns and behaviours. The actual form of the practice is of no consequence as the underlying premise is there must be an intention to truly understand yourself. Another important aspect is the commitment to stay with the activity and the exploration of self through thick and thin. Often it is when life gets really bumpy and rough that staying with yourself provides enormous opportunities for you to learn.  

Self study uncovers both strengths and weaknesses in yourself and it is through the process of self-study that you come face to face with your negative habits, addictions and patterns that are holding you back from reaching your potential. What you do with your learning is up to you and from experience it is one thing to recognise a habit that is holding you back but can be quite a hard process to change. Giving yourself a hard time about your weaknesses or trying to hide from them, ignore or only focus on your strengths is not the best way to approach your limitations. Everyone has them and they can be used to make yourself whole.
For me watching my thoughts when gardening allows the thoughts to flow and I can observe them. My thoughts can be challenging especially when I recognise patterns of anger, resentment and other undesirable or non supportive thoughts and ways of being. My question to myself is can I sit or be with these feelings, emotions and acknowledge there existence without being disappointed with myself. Thoughts are natural and you have over 50,000 a day so with that many thoughts passing through your mind it would seem only natural that you might get caught up in some and go off on a journey. Compassion and kindness are really important in working with self as the self can be confused and resistant to shifting self-destructive habits. The help of a mentor, guru or teacher can help you to see yourself clearly: that is how you really are and redirect yourself. You can learn to acknowledge your shadow side because once you become aware of them you have the tools within your heart to heal yourself and become a whole person.

Namaste,
Margot