Isvara Pranidhana: Surrender

White Tara

Over the last 4 weeks I have discussed the niyamas, the second limb of Patanjali's ashtanga yoga. The 5th Niyama, ईश्वर प्रणिधान: Isvara Pranidhana, which means surrendering to a power greater than yourself. 

Some students struggle with the term God. I remind them that it can be nature (look at the power of the ocean, lightening, wind), it can be the class or a group of people (any number greater than one is greater than our ego flying solo), or you can think about being the best that you can be (greater than who we might be on a stressful day).

According to TKV Desikachar, isvara pranidhana means, "Reverence to [a Higher Power] promotes the ability to completely understand any object." By giving ourselves or surrendering to something greater than ourselves, we are able to understand ourselves, others and situations that we might have struggled with in the past.

We develop focus and faith. Sometimes it seems that we do not reap the benefits of a practice as quickly as we'd like. Yoga is a gradual practice. As we cultivate our practice, our lifestyle and our lives, change is many times subtle. 

Yoga is not a band-aid, at least not for very long. Continued practice brings us to a deeper, subtler place. We must also be diligent. If I let a practice go, my old ways eventually show up. I am not suggesting that our practices don't change over time because they certainly do and should.

How can you begin to connect to your Higher Power and let go of your ego?

• If you have a spiritual practice, you might begin there.

  

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• Sitting 5-10 minutes per day and focusing on your breath. If you're not sure of how to sit and you live in the SLC, UT area, join me for an introduction to meditation, June 3rd, 6-8 pm, Bliss and Baklava.
• Reading spiritual or inspiring literature first thing in the morning or right before bed.
• Recite the mantra ॐ OM (according to TKV, OM means isvara). The more you recite OM, the closer you will come to your Higher Power.
• Focus on a picture, statue or image of your Higher Power or something that has the qualities of your higher power (moon, ocean, mountain).
• Use a word or sound, a mantra, from your religious or spiritual upbringing that has meaning to you. Repeat it aloud or silently.
• Dedicate your asana practice to your Higher Power.
• Let go of judgement and criticism in your life and in your practice.

Thank you for reading about Surrender. For many of us, surrendering makes us vulnerable. A dear friend told me many years ago that to be vulnerable, makes us stronger. It has taken decades for me to understand and feel her words.

I would enjoy reading about your practices and experiences with surrender and with a Higher Power.

Svadhyaya: Self-Study

JJ-reading on beach, my fav place to be

My journey within actually began before I started my yoga practice. I was stressed and self medicated, and I was looking for a way to move through life more peacefully.

Without substances of course...

The fourth niyama of Patanjali's 2nd limb of ashtanga yoga, svdhyaya, self study, is a practice, a deeper look within, that takes time. The movement within can take on a variety of patterns and no one way is wrong.

When I found Richard Hittleman's Yoga 28 Day Exercise Plan, I started to have glimpses of peace inside my body. It would be many years before I found some peace of mind.

Many people today and over all of our human existence have wondered why we are here on this planet, at this time, under these circumstances? What it my purpose? Is there life after death? Why does it matter? Self study gives us an opportunity to answer these questions for ourselves. 

"The mind's first step to self-awareness must be through the body." George A. Sheehan

I have had many amazing teachers throughout my life. Some I've paid for, some where young, some had four legs...Teachers guide us, yet we still need to do our work.

"People need to know that they have all the tools within themselves. Self-awareness which means awareness of their body, awareness of their mental space, awareness of their relationships-not only with each other, but life and the ecosystem." Deepak Chopra

Many of us begin on our yoga path with asana. The body is tangible. It follows our commands more readily than our mind does. Some whom begin on the path desire to move deeper. Some move on. Grow or go.

What are some ways to begin a practice in svdhyaya?

• reading inspirational material-religious, inspired, spiritual
• mantra, repeating a mantra (my favorite)
• meditation-focus
• journaling
• studying
• any type of mindfulness practice--staying in the present moment

Some other things to consider as we venture into the self:

We must observe our behavior and our thoughts.

Reflect on what we see. 

Seek counsel when needed--when we cannot see what we need to see.

Change what does not work for us.

Evaluate the change; does it make a difference?

Synthesize all that we learn.

Be the person we were called to be.

One of the tools I've used most recently for self discovery is Desire Mapping. If you are interested in learning more or joining me for a retreat, read on.

I'm interested in hearing about your stories of self-study. Yes, they are personal and those are the ones we learn so much from.

#niyamas #svdhyaya #desiremapping

Tapas: Heat Generated by Discipline

Continuing our discussion with the 2nd limb of Patanjali's ashtanga yoga, the 3rd niyama, tapas, which literally translates to discipline from the sanskrit root tap or heat, is the niyama most of my college students connect with. When they first read TKV Desikachar's description of tapas in The Heart of Yoga, they tell me they can relate to working their bodies.

It's much more than working your body, tapas is creating heat or fire through discipline. When we commit to a practice, be it asana, meditation or eating clean, we are transformed by following through and getting it done. Patanjali tells us that we can burn away impurities through practice, which then makes room for a spiritual connection to ourselves, to others, to a power greater than us.

Discipline is not beating ourselves up because we skipped a day or fell out of practice. Discipline is picking up where we left off, supporting another in their practice, and showing up. Practice is not perfect. TKV Desikachar also warns against using tapas a denying the self or as punishment. Tapas is a choice that we make to be healthy and to rid our bodies and minds of impediments to moving ahead.

Through our discipline we create change. This change propels us forward to want to do our best in the moment. I see it often in my students who are so inspired through their yoga practice that they want to teach and share with others what they've learned.

Setting up routines and doing them repeatedly is discipline. As with any skill, the more we do it, the more we want to do it. Discipline sets us free. Think of brushing your teeth. Most of us could not leave the house with if we have not brushed. It's much easier to continue with a practice than to stop and start repeatedly.

I've worked with successful athletes and professionals in my practice. One thing that is common in them all is the commitment to do what they need to do. Many times they come to me because they are challenged with committing to other aspects of their life especially focusing the mind. One might think if you are disciplined in one area, it will transfer to other areas in life. For some this is true, for others, this is not the case. 

The body for some is more tangible and easier to manage. The mind, well. We all know they are intimately connected--you cannot change one without the other. 

What can you do?

• Observe your habits-I like journaling for this.
• Choose 1 or 2 habits you'd like to change.
• Start slowly-meditate for 5 minutes a day, give up soda, take a 15 minute walk or yoga practice at lunch each day.
• Commit to a time period-one month.
• Do it.
• Evaluate how you feel. 
• Continue with the practices that serve your body and mind.
• Slow and steady is the way to create lasting change.

I'd love to hear about how tapas -- transformational heat generated through discipline -- has changed your life! If you are interested in support for changing a habit, sign up for a 20-minute complimentary wellness chat.

#tapas #niyamas

Santosha: Contentment

Today, let's explore the 2nd niyama from Patanjali's 2nd limb of ashtanga yoga, santosha or contentment.
Happiest with some sweet treat in each hand as a child, I wonder how much I've changed in my search for joy and fulfillment. 

What is it that makes us content? Being okay with how we how things are in our lives? Spending time with loved ones, nature, ourselves? Accepting our lot? Each of us yearns for inner peace.

संतोष santosha literally means completely satisfied or content. In fact, in this state, we are so content that we desire nothing else. According to TKV Desikachar, when we are focused on what we have, we are in the moment. When we are focused on what we don't have, we are not in the moment.

If we yearn, we are not fulfilled. Society tells us do, strive, more, bigger, faster, keep moving, never settle. 

Overcoming through Mindfulness: What can we do?

• Do the footwork towards a goal and let go of the results.
• Maintain an attitude of gratitude.
• Being calm and content does not mean we are bored.
• Literally, stop and smell the roses.
• Focus on your breath. Breathe deeply again and again.
• Listen to children, partners and older people.
• Look into people's eyes when you are talking to them.
• Don't text or read your phone while walking or driving.
• Show appreciation for small kindnesses.
• Greet your postal worker, bagger, and others you might overlook.
• Spend time in nature.
• Turn off your phone in the evenings or during meals.
• Sit quietly for 5 minutes each morning.
• Schedule your day so you don't have to rush.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutra 2.42  संतोष अनुत्तमः सुख लाभः santosha anuttamah sukha labhah tells us that if we are content with what we have, we will be joyful. From this state of mind, we will be able to move on to deeper yogic practices. It is possible as a yogi entrepreneur, mom, partner, friend, daughter, etc. to be and feel gratified in each and every moment.

I'd love to hear what you do to be mindful, in the present moment and content. Thank you for reading.

Saucha: Yogic Purification

pascimottanasana

The 2nd Limb of yoga, the niyamas are personal practices or behaviors, saucha (purification or cleanliness) is the first.

In previous posts, I focused on the 1st limb of ashatanga yoga, the 5 yamas are ethical practices or behaviors, ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, and aparigraha. 

So what was Patanjali (sage who wrote down the Yoga Sutras) referring to regarding being pure? Well, we can initially look at our bodies and our minds. I have written and talked a lot about eating clean and meditation. 

Asana (yoga postures) and Pranayama (breathing practices) are yogas main ways to purify the body and to begin to cleanse the mind so we are then able to do some of the deeper subtler practices that require concentration.

What are some other things we can look at for purification?

Fresh dandelion greens

• what we eat
• the air we breathe
• the music, movies and books we consume
• the people we engage with
• the space we work, live and drive around in
• the clothing we put on our body
• the work/service we do in the world

I used to think that it didn't matter which movies I watched, but now after years of viewing a variety of genres and observing how I feel--as well as watching my teenagers, I know, garbage in = garbage feelings. It is the same, when I eat poorly, I feel poorly. When I have piles setting about my home, I can't work as effectively as when my space is tidy. When I am around energy-draining or angry people, I feel horrible.

What are your experiences? What are you will to change in order to feel better and truly have what you want in your life? I'd love to hear.