Progress in Practice 2

Attending our first yoga class we learn to make shapes with the body. All we want to know is what is up, what is down and what goes which way and where. It is helpful to focus on placement and positioning. It keeps things simple.

After a while the shapes of the postures become familliar. We begin to feel various parts of the body in isolation and how they co- ordinate with other parts. This process of getting to know ourselves continues to deepen as we practice.

Once the shapes are known we then become aware of how we create each shape. We start to feel how we can adjust the body in both gross and increasingly more subtle ways. This is a process of refinement. The actions of various muscles and the alignment of the bones become a part of our awareness.

This curiosity to explore action and reaction in the body is where we can experience interdependance. There is a play of parts of the body against each other. For example in Downward Facing Dog we might be able to open the chest and then when we straighten our legs the upper back becomes rounded. How far to go with one action without knocking something else out?

The more we observe ourselves we begin to touche on the pulsing, breathing, sensing, feeling substance of life. We may even arrive in moments of equilibrium and harmony.

The postures that we are most familliar with are a great place to start observing this play. More complex postures are helpful in what they expose or bring to the surface. There are not for getting stronger muscles of more flexibility. That is a side benefit.

Lets begin to feel the sensitivity of our skin, to feel the dorsal spine supporting the heart, to soften the groins to calm the fear in our gut, and to sing silently with each breath.

Next time you practice feel the positioning of the bones and become sensitive to the organs. The bones and muscles support the healthy function of the organs. Let not our desire for success and progress lead to hardening these vital organs.

Progress is in sensitivity and awareness which walks off the mat with us.

Hari Om

Gentle Home Practice, 10 mins

A
Sit cross legged
Upright, chest lifted and broad
Feel each breath as it moves in the body

1. Interlace fingers and stretch arms up turning palms to face the sky
Repeat changing the interlace

2. Twist
Left hand to right knee, right hand on floor behind
As breathe out turn to right
Repeat twist to the left

3. Forward Bend
Sit tall and reach arms forward along the ground, stretch body forward. Feel your body breathing.

Sit up and repeat steps 1-3 with the other leg crossed in front.

B
Kneel

1. Interlace fingers and turning the palms to face the sky stretch arms up.
Repeat change the interlace

2. Twist
Left hand to right thigh, near the knee
As you turn to right stretch right arm back behind you
Centre and repeat turning to left

3. Forward Bend
Separate the knees comfortably and stretch both arms forward along floor. Rest your head. Keep the arms straight.
Feel your breathe move in the stillness

C
Downward facing dog posture

Be on all fours
Tuck toes under
Lift your knees off the floor lift hips to the sky
Straighten legs
Press hands into floor to stretch up and back towards legs
Press legs back
Breathe
And bend knees to come down
Rest in the kneeling forward bend of B3.

D Relax
Sit or lie flat and feel your breathing.

Expanding and softening, breathe in and breathe out

Breathe into the heart and out through the limbs

Hari Om

Progress in Practice 1

The way that we think and act in our everyday lives is often the mind set that we bring to our yoga practice.

Yoga is however an opportunity to notice our tendencies and become aware of other choices available to us.

It is common to play to our strengths, presenting to people the aspects of ourself that we want them to see. This re affirms our self image and we feel confident as a result. Socially this may work very well however do we ever explore the more tender areas of ourselves. Do we listen to our sadness and how it feels in the body? Or is it supressed along with other emotions that are "inconvenient"?

Our yoga practice is an opportunity to listen and feel. Acknowledging the areas of stiffness or dullness in the bodymind and gently 'opening up, breathing into and extending from.'

It takes courage to do asana without our habitual thoughts getting in the way, and without our strengths dominating. Giving time to explore other aspects of ourselves is a way to open up to the truth. Satya is one of the first principles of yoga. It means truth and light. On the yoga mat we have the opportunity to turn towards our truth, the perhaps uncomfortable truths.

Growth lies in exploring our vulnerability. It might be helpful to notice which parts of the body are being sacrificed in order to do a certain yoga posture. In order to achieve one thing something else often gives. A state of balance arises when we become aware of this interplay between aspects of the bodymind.

Which parts of your body often do the giving? Which parts are often ignored as 'inconvenient' or 'nothing to worry about'? Can they have a voice too?

Which parts of your body are dominant and are often the leader? Which bits do you present to others?

Yoga is turning towards yourself, pointing you to you. This is the light of yoga.

Arriving

Gazing over the sea after vegetables, rice and omlette lunch

Reflecting on Satya- truth. This is the second principle of yoga.

Being clear that what we are saying is the truth, rather than being based on false judgment or misconception or exageration. Gossip is a good example of this.

Can we begin to notice when we speak confidently about something that is not actually based on truth? It has been anticipated, expected or imagined. What we say is distorted by our wants and needs, rather than accurate knowledge of the situation.

Right thought, right speech and right action are the basis of mindfulness. They are also integral to this yogic principle Satya.

Silence is always a good option. It gives us a moment to breathe and to notice what sensations are happening in the body. Speech then arises from this silence and this clarity of awareness.

In our Asana practice we can have many moments of spaceousness to breathe and feel. This helps us to carry out right action in the limbs, muscles and bones.
Yogic principles are embodied as well as lived.

Namaste