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