Often times in our asana practice, we might hear 'move to your edge' or 'use your breath as the edge-detector'; language that is about engagement, and appropriate application of will to experience.
The edge in the practice is that point at which the breath and the physical sensation become linked, without distraction and without gross effort. We look to be at that place where any less effort or will would allow our minds to wander and our egos to rise but also, where any more effort would disrupt the smooth flow of the breath. After all, while it presents as asana practice, it is in reality 'breath practice, engaged by physical postures', or is I can say the another way - you're there to breath as you perceive, not achieve anything with your body.
The asana practice is powerful in this way, and can be a vehicle for the yoga - the linking of breath to experience to the exclusion of ego and drama. A real presence in the doing of what we are doing as we are doing it. That's why folks easily mistake asana for yoga - asana can provide for some, the perfect experience that allows for the unique presence and engagement.
And, we get filled with life force, or as one of my favorite teachers says 'totally pranaifed!' and it feels great. That's part of the practice as well; a deep sense of self, but also of expansiveness and connectedness. Interesting, the more we 'go in', the farther we end up expanding out. Again, I posit this practice is the dynamic linking of oppositional forces or concepts into a greater experience.
But, yogis, sometimes we get really expanded, way out there. And, we lose the containment. After all, the world has limitless Prana, we just need to use it. We don't have to create it, or make more, or preserve it. Just use what we need and move on. However, some folks get really big on the 'outward' expressions - even asana practice is an outward expression and not the only vehicle for life force, for connection, and for experience. It is simply the grossest, as in most physical and present, least subtle and most apparent.
Take the time to cultivate that power brought on by the linking of asana and pranayama; take the time to finish your exhales through your nose, not as big heavy sighs. That's dissipation of the same energetic that you are working to amplify!! Like blowing up a balloon, but halfway to full you just let a little air out... Contain the essence and continue to distill it, not spill it. Create a boundary in the practice that places pranayama before asana, and allows you to back out of practice to preserve pranayama and connection.
We should build life force, use the pranayama and bandhas to distill that life force, and then preserve that essence within us. Then, we can serve from a place of center, and not try to meet everyone's needs. We can place appropriate boundaries on our relationships, our involvements, our investments of time and energy. Not in an exclusive or discriminatory way, but rather in discernment of what serves us, what serves all, what serves our purpose.
Take care of yourself first, then the Self will take care of all. So, in your asana practice, find grace, and openness and a feeling of expansion, but always bring it home. Add some simple pranayama, or seated meditation to close your practice. Don't go out feeling 'blown up' but rather filled with purpose.
Then, use that purpose and life-force with discernment. Have clear boundaries and express them in love, not anger. Have engagement with others and empathy, but hold an impermeable barrier against drama, against gossip, against our lowest actions.
The boundary we create can be in loving service, not frightened protection. The boundary can contain what is needed and be intelligently allowed to permeable to what serves and builds and impermeable to what negates and defeats. Each of the trillions of cells in your body has this innate intelligence - what gets in serves, what doesn't stay out!
Take care, in compassion, of your self. Set boundaries, not walls. Hold space, not grudges; come from love, build your personal power in loving service, and give where it is needed, not where it is demanded.
Then, give thanks and praise...
The edge in the practice is that point at which the breath and the physical sensation become linked, without distraction and without gross effort. We look to be at that place where any less effort or will would allow our minds to wander and our egos to rise but also, where any more effort would disrupt the smooth flow of the breath. After all, while it presents as asana practice, it is in reality 'breath practice, engaged by physical postures', or is I can say the another way - you're there to breath as you perceive, not achieve anything with your body.
The asana practice is powerful in this way, and can be a vehicle for the yoga - the linking of breath to experience to the exclusion of ego and drama. A real presence in the doing of what we are doing as we are doing it. That's why folks easily mistake asana for yoga - asana can provide for some, the perfect experience that allows for the unique presence and engagement.
And, we get filled with life force, or as one of my favorite teachers says 'totally pranaifed!' and it feels great. That's part of the practice as well; a deep sense of self, but also of expansiveness and connectedness. Interesting, the more we 'go in', the farther we end up expanding out. Again, I posit this practice is the dynamic linking of oppositional forces or concepts into a greater experience.
But, yogis, sometimes we get really expanded, way out there. And, we lose the containment. After all, the world has limitless Prana, we just need to use it. We don't have to create it, or make more, or preserve it. Just use what we need and move on. However, some folks get really big on the 'outward' expressions - even asana practice is an outward expression and not the only vehicle for life force, for connection, and for experience. It is simply the grossest, as in most physical and present, least subtle and most apparent.
Take the time to cultivate that power brought on by the linking of asana and pranayama; take the time to finish your exhales through your nose, not as big heavy sighs. That's dissipation of the same energetic that you are working to amplify!! Like blowing up a balloon, but halfway to full you just let a little air out... Contain the essence and continue to distill it, not spill it. Create a boundary in the practice that places pranayama before asana, and allows you to back out of practice to preserve pranayama and connection.
We should build life force, use the pranayama and bandhas to distill that life force, and then preserve that essence within us. Then, we can serve from a place of center, and not try to meet everyone's needs. We can place appropriate boundaries on our relationships, our involvements, our investments of time and energy. Not in an exclusive or discriminatory way, but rather in discernment of what serves us, what serves all, what serves our purpose.
Take care of yourself first, then the Self will take care of all. So, in your asana practice, find grace, and openness and a feeling of expansion, but always bring it home. Add some simple pranayama, or seated meditation to close your practice. Don't go out feeling 'blown up' but rather filled with purpose.
Then, use that purpose and life-force with discernment. Have clear boundaries and express them in love, not anger. Have engagement with others and empathy, but hold an impermeable barrier against drama, against gossip, against our lowest actions.
The boundary we create can be in loving service, not frightened protection. The boundary can contain what is needed and be intelligently allowed to permeable to what serves and builds and impermeable to what negates and defeats. Each of the trillions of cells in your body has this innate intelligence - what gets in serves, what doesn't stay out!
Take care, in compassion, of your self. Set boundaries, not walls. Hold space, not grudges; come from love, build your personal power in loving service, and give where it is needed, not where it is demanded.
Then, give thanks and praise...
