8 Limb yoga part 3
The third practice is Asana, which is what many people now think of as yoga. The act of putting yourself in positions or postures(the direct translation to asana). In Yoga Sutras 2.46 Patanjali states, “Asana is a pose for sustaining meditation. In the care of a competent instructor, each posture will become steady and comfortable so we may forget the body entirely as we enter samadhi. … The mind cannot become still until the body is still. In the practice of asana, the body, having attained stillness, teaches the mind the same stillness. Similarly, the mind can never become steady and comfortable until the body is so conditioned. Each asana is a meditation posture, and each meditation is an asana of the mind.”.
In Yoga teacher training I felt the affects of 30 minutes or more of meditation everyday. I felt more confident, in touch with my emotions, more available to talk about them, more focused, and overall had a better outlook on the present moment and future. It took a few days to start feeling these affects. Now I look at the 5 hours of asana we did each day and how that helped still my mind in meditation to bring about these positive shifts. It was a combination of both that brought about all the goodness.
This makes me think of why Im doing all of this(website, balance business and coaching, living and sharing). This is no one easy button, no pill, no one exercise, no just sit and meditate. This is a finer intertwined balance of paths and practices that bring about real change in our lives. As humans we are all different and have our own unique paths and practices that work better for us individually.
Asana has real purpose in my life, aside from making me feel or look fit, it helps set the stage for other practices that help me show up as the loving excited human I am. When my body is tight, uncomfortable and agitated, odds are my mind is too. When my mind is full of energy and thoughts, odds are moving my body will help me to understand and process whats going on up there.
I am a mover, I have done a lot of moving ever since I was a kid. Im glad that I learned to sit still, and that I feel benefits from it. I believe this is a version of balance that I needed to incorporate into myself and life. Its a beautiful, difficult practice that I love now.
Im grateful for Asana and all types of it. Long help poses like in Hatha or Yin yoga, or fast breath with movement focus like Vinyasa. Im grateful for long runs. Climbing tiny finger cracks in granite thousands of feet in the air, balancing on a 300 meter highline, guiding a 14 foot inflatable raft down class 4 whitewater, doing a hard core workout.
Im grateful for balance and Im grateful for this path I’m on.
I love you
Your life maters
thank you for reading, let me know how practicing asana has helped you or even just what versions you like best.
MUCH MUCH MUCH LOVVVVVVVEEEEEE
