(All you Sanskrit experts out there, forgive me if I spelled that wrong).
The first of the Yoga Sutras, atha yoganusasanam means:
“Now begins the study of yoga.”
An interpretation I heard when I first started studying these old texts was simply, “now this is yoga,” or “now is yoga,” and it’s something I’ve carried with me ever since.
Now begins the study of yoga. Now is yoga. Not tomorrow, not yesterday, not the class you just finished. Now. This very moment, this very breath. This is your yoga.
This is my yoga. My yoga is an asana (posture) practice. My yoga is a study of texts. My yoga is in my framework, my structure. My yoga is “how I do anything is how I do everything.” It’s the gift of a calm presence, and the constant asking of myself what it truly means to live with an open heart.
It’s my full bind, and a full expression of ardha chandrasana (both of which I moved into this week for the first time) just as much as it is the space behind my eyes and the stillness in my heart.
My yoga is honoring my need for input and taking a break from output. It’s striving for balance in a world that wants my extremes.
Now, this is yoga. Now, this is commitment, dedication, study, perspective, authenticity, calmness, openness, love, abundance, self-study, and joy.
Now, this is yoga.
What are you honoring right this minute? What are you letting go of from yesterday and tomorrow? What is your now?
Photo credit: me!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
This post reminds me of something I'm trying to write to explain my relationship with Tao, Jungian Psych and Hinduism (and the name of my blog). I am always happy when you share your experiences with yoga with the world. Warm fuzzies.
Right this minute I'm honoring the last weekend of semi-down time I'm getting before launching into at least 80 hour work/school/thesis/teaching weeks next semester. I'm resting and spending time with people online and off. I am trying to get organized and clear my head so I can be OK between August 16 and December 16. Deep breaths.
Lead me from the Unreal to the Real,
Lead me from Darkness to Light,
Lead me from Death to Immortality.
~The Upanishads
Yoga is a vast spiritual science which means to unite lower consciousness to the higher one. yoga incorporated with overall development of human being from grosser to subtler. in physical plane it gives us a healthy physique and in mental plane it gives a healthy and happy psychic status.
Raina, Yoga Exper DivineWellness http://bit.ly/aVtS1o
Great post. I'd love to hear your take on your favorite studios in Boulder. I'm partial to Corepower but I'd like to try some others too.
totally inspiring doni! i know how hard it can be to put the yoga philosophies into our everyday lives (breathe through the turmoils and stresses like we breathe through the practices, practicing mindfulness not just when meditating but when conversing with other, enjoying a meal, etc) it is these practices that i strive for and try to put in my conscious daily.. i believe that it is that sort of practice that makes us true yogis!
i'm honoring my body, by having a snack because i'm hungry, without questioning whether or not it's healthy enough, whether or not it can wait till i get home, whether or not i need it.
i'm listening to the rain hitting the roof of the office and enjoying that sound, instead of grumbling about driving home in it.
i'm enjoying the gift of silence. the wasbund was served two days ago, and i haven't heard a word from him. i'm grateful for that, and hopeful that it means that he is accepting of my reality, happy where he's at, and ready to let go. i'm happy that he is happy enough to let this pass gently, with dignity, and i'm proud of him for getting there. i'm proud of me too.
i'd by lying by omission if i didn't add that i'm relishing knowing not only your gift for insight and expression, but knowing the beautiful sound of your laughter. like human wind chimes.
Thank you. It is truly wonderful to find other like minded people in the world. When I first began teaching yoga I would fill my classes with all the wonder that I was myself discovering in my yoga practice… through time I came to realize that most of my students wanted only the asana practice and did not seek yoga rather a purely physical practice and so I toned down my passion, my learnings… you remind me that there is no one with out the other… you rekindle in me the flame of sharing and for that I am thankful.
Namaste,
Rubens
To be honest, Grace's family friend Helena gave me a tongue reading over the weekend and told me some things that have sort of shaken my perspectives and pre-conceived notions about believing vs. feeling things. I hold onto my perspective so hard that I constrict it sometimes. Gotta ease up, ya know?
Reading this post felt like taking a very deep breath of air and then releasing it very slowly. I didn't even realize how tense I was until I read this and thought about what I'm honoring right this minute. So, thank you for that.
I'm trying to honor one of the yoga concepts I've learned from my practice (that has been stagnant for too long, I need to get my act together & get back into bendy), ahimsa. It's non-violence & I'm trying to apply that to myself as I go through a really tough time withdrawing from a medication I decided I just couldn't be on anymore. It's been hell, & extremely frustrating, so when I can I try to meditate a little (as much as my mind will let me as it goes through this process) on ahimsa, letting my body do what it needs to & celebrate every little baby step I take.
I guess that tells you what I'm letting go of as well…
GOD. I LOVE THAT "How you do anything is how you do everything." Love. that. so. much. I'm honoring myself with kind words, yoga, sweat, good food, good friends, excitement, PERMISSION TO FEEL AND BE JOYFUL and have butterflies and hope and smiles.
{ 2 trackbacks }