Santosha- contentment
An underlying steadiness
A deep inner peace
A faith and a trust that things are as they should be
A letting go
A softening and an opening to what the present moment is
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Swadhaya- self-study
Self-study comes in many forms (any activity that cultivates self-reflecion): parenting, playing an instrument, athletics, meditation, etc
Whatever the method, it's important to stay with it even when times are tough. It's often when times are tough that we learn the most about ourselves.
Authentic self-study uncovers are addictions, weaknesses, etc. We must accept all that we find without berating ourselves. We train with the deep intention to know ourselves fully. When we get close to these so-called negative characteristics we became able to see their roots. "The degree to which we can do this for ourselves is the degree to which we will be tolerant of other people's weaknesses and flaws", Donna Farhi.
Self-study comes in many forms (any activity that cultivates self-reflecion): parenting, playing an instrument, athletics, meditation, etc
Whatever the method, it's important to stay with it even when times are tough. It's often when times are tough that we learn the most about ourselves.
Authentic self-study uncovers are addictions, weaknesses, etc. We must accept all that we find without berating ourselves. We train with the deep intention to know ourselves fully. When we get close to these so-called negative characteristics we became able to see their roots. "The degree to which we can do this for ourselves is the degree to which we will be tolerant of other people's weaknesses and flaws", Donna Farhi.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Tapas-burning enthusiasm, zeal, sincerity
"Charging all your actions with zeal and sincerity- whether serving family, the greater community, or yourself- transforms them into spiritual practice. This concept applies to the formal practices as well. When practicing asana, pranayama, or any of the other practices, the main benefit comes from embracing the deep spiritual intention." - Nischala Joy Devi, The Secret Power of Yoga, p. 213
Imagine there is a rolled towel across your hip points and you are folding over the top of it
Round your back like cat pose- a little bit in all the postures
Intensity, devotion, love, joy
Tapas comes from deep within and is fueled by positivity and love
"Charging all your actions with zeal and sincerity- whether serving family, the greater community, or yourself- transforms them into spiritual practice. This concept applies to the formal practices as well. When practicing asana, pranayama, or any of the other practices, the main benefit comes from embracing the deep spiritual intention." - Nischala Joy Devi, The Secret Power of Yoga, p. 213
Imagine there is a rolled towel across your hip points and you are folding over the top of it
Round your back like cat pose- a little bit in all the postures
Intensity, devotion, love, joy
Tapas comes from deep within and is fueled by positivity and love
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Saucha: purity, living purely, "that and nothing else"
Saucha involves making choices about what you want and don't want in your life
"When we read books that elevate our consciousness, see movies that inspire, and associate with gentle people, we are feeding the mind in a way that nourishes our own peacefulness", Donna Farhi, from Yoga Mind, Body, and Spirit
Maintaining a cleanliness in mind, body, and environment that helps us experience life in a more direct way
Healthy food
Clean living space
Associate w gentle people
Inspiring books/ movies
Simplicity
Emotional lightness
Uncluttered mind
Uncluttered schedule
Simplify your days/ weeks
Do less in order to experience what you do more directly
Notice how you feel after eating a simple, healthful meal
Notice how you feel when your living space is clean and uncluttered
Notice how you look at life differently when your mind is more clear
Open some space on your calendar to allow for spontaneity and ease
Open some space in your calendar to allow for contemplation, meditation
Saucha involves making choices about what you want and don't want in your life
"When we read books that elevate our consciousness, see movies that inspire, and associate with gentle people, we are feeding the mind in a way that nourishes our own peacefulness", Donna Farhi, from Yoga Mind, Body, and Spirit
Maintaining a cleanliness in mind, body, and environment that helps us experience life in a more direct way
Healthy food
Clean living space
Associate w gentle people
Inspiring books/ movies
Simplicity
Emotional lightness
Uncluttered mind
Uncluttered schedule
Simplify your days/ weeks
Do less in order to experience what you do more directly
Notice how you feel after eating a simple, healthful meal
Notice how you feel when your living space is clean and uncluttered
Notice how you look at life differently when your mind is more clear
Open some space on your calendar to allow for spontaneity and ease
Open some space in your calendar to allow for contemplation, meditation
Aparigraha- non-grasping
This yama is related to our ability to change and accept change. Our ability to let things go.
Aparigraha is related to our ability to age gracefully.
What does it feel like give away some of your things to a neighbor who would enjoy them?
Can we let go of fixed attitudes and opinions? Can we let go of our ideas about right and wrong? Life is change, life is fluid. Nothing stays the same.
Let your yoga practice be different each time.
Think bigger. See the bigger picture. There is always more to everything than we can see on the surface.
This yama is related to our ability to change and accept change. Our ability to let things go.
Aparigraha is related to our ability to age gracefully.
What does it feel like give away some of your things to a neighbor who would enjoy them?
Can we let go of fixed attitudes and opinions? Can we let go of our ideas about right and wrong? Life is change, life is fluid. Nothing stays the same.
Let your yoga practice be different each time.
Think bigger. See the bigger picture. There is always more to everything than we can see on the surface.
Brahmacharya- balancing our vital energies
Cultivate balance in your life
Do you spend too much time in front of the computer and not enough time outside?
Do you spend so much time working that you don't have time to eat healthfully?
Do you exercise so much that you are not spending good time with your family?
Do you waste your energy on things that are ultimately not important or not healthy?
Cultivate balance in your life
Do you spend too much time in front of the computer and not enough time outside?
Do you spend so much time working that you don't have time to eat healthfully?
Do you exercise so much that you are not spending good time with your family?
Do you waste your energy on things that are ultimately not important or not healthy?
Monday, October 1, 2012
Asteya- not stealing, generosity
Giving instead of taking
Abundance rather than lacking
Asteya is related to the common feeling of lack. I am not good enough, I have not done enough, I don't have enough. Can we instead cultivate a feeling of abundance? We can ask ourselves, "How is this feeling of lack getting in the way of appreciating what I do have?"
Let your low/mid back be wide and soft. Isometrically draw your legs up into your pelvis. Don't steal from your back body to have a bigger pose in your front body; keep your back full.
"Be content with what you have.
Rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
The whole world belongs to you."
- Tao Te Ching #44 (Stephen Mitchell translation)
Giving instead of taking
Abundance rather than lacking
Asteya is related to the common feeling of lack. I am not good enough, I have not done enough, I don't have enough. Can we instead cultivate a feeling of abundance? We can ask ourselves, "How is this feeling of lack getting in the way of appreciating what I do have?"
Let your low/mid back be wide and soft. Isometrically draw your legs up into your pelvis. Don't steal from your back body to have a bigger pose in your front body; keep your back full.
"Be content with what you have.
Rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
The whole world belongs to you."
- Tao Te Ching #44 (Stephen Mitchell translation)
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