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