Breath and the Heart

Observe too
The place in the body,
The duration, and the count.
II.50B

"You can also send the breath, just in your mind, to a part of your body where you're not so strong yet, to give it sort of an energy boost. You just picture the energy of the breath flowing down and freeing up any part of your body that feels stuck or "choked". It really is true that picturing your back loosening up, getting better again, can actually help it happen, as you do your poses. This is one big secret of how yoga really works."

"Now the master says too that you have to watch the duration of your breath - how long it takes to get a full breath in, and then a full breath out. Which is to say how fast you are breathing. It's not really important how fast or slow you breathe, but rather that your breathing is deep and rhythmic, without any gasping or panting - no broken starts and stops, no ragged edges."

"The habit of staying aware of the count, or making sure that the out-breath takes the same number of heartbeats as the in-breath, also begins to carry over into your everyday life - say, while you are working at your desk or facing a tense situation, it relaxes you and helps keep you from choking off your inner channels (nadis) in the first place."


How Yoga Works
Geshe Michael Roach & Christie McNally

BREATHE...

Patanjali recommends an Eight-Limbed System of yoga called Ashtanga or Raja Yoga. Each limb of the tree represents a purifying yoga practice. These yoga practices seek to purify the body and mind so we can experience self-knowledge or "Samadhi" which means the same as the highest. In this state we realize we are not alone. We shift identification with the body and mind to identification with the Divine Self. The mind recedes into its source which is the same source of all creation. This is an experience beyond the senses.

Predominantly the 8-Limbs are a path of effort, but the last 3 limbs must be attained through grace.

The Fourth limb of the eight-limbed path, pranayama, trains us to control or extend the breath. Pranayama begins to shift our awareness from the outside world to our inner essence, from the body to the mind and toward the Self. The yamas and niyamas teach us how to act with more mindfulness toward others and ourselves, the asana focuses on strengthening and honoring the physical body and now pranayama moves to harness the breath and help us find peace within.

Meditations on the Mat

Om Hrim Namah Shivaya Tas Mai Sri Gurave Namaha
Shiva is a name that is given to consciousness that dwells in us all. When we chant this mantra we are bowing to this consciousness within - our inner self.

As I break down the meaning of each of these words in this mantra, I am particularly interested in the word HRIM pronounced as "Hreem". It means a mantra for Maya Shakti.

The literal meaning of the word "Maya" is illusion. Maya creates the ignorance of the individual self. So Maya Shakti is the divine power which brings out the evolution of this present world. Maya Shakti is a Goddess often depicted as lifting the veils of earthly form to reveal the true nature of the universe.

The Lessons of Maya Shakti
Maya moves subtly into our life to tell us to face our illusion. It is time to see what is so, what is true, what is real. It is easy to get caught up in illusion. Wholeness is nurtured when we accept where we are and forgive ourselves, become aware of the illusion, then consciously lift the veils to experience the reality. Seeing the reality behind the illusion is what brings us power.


Tas Mai Sri Gurave Namaha - I bow to this teaching.

Doing it Right

Your practice must be done correctly, For then a firm foundation is laid.
Sutra 1.14c

"You see, the point is not what the pose looks like in the end, to someone watching you. It's the process of the pose as it goes on, it's what it does inside of you: how it works to begin to straighten and open your channels. But if you don't do the pose right, if you cheat, if you try to trick the pose and get around it just so you look good, then the pose doesn't work on you the way it's supposed to. It's what you can do now, if you do it right. And that lays a firm foundation to build from. We are here to make you healthy, not to make sure you can touch your head to your knees."

Chapter 5 - How Yoga Works

HANG IN THERE BABY

In reviewing Chapter Five in The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita, I ran across Sloka 23 and I wanted to share my thoughts.

"While still in a human body, if you can stand fast amid the forces of desire and anger, then surely you are a yogi destined for happiness."

This sloka speaks of persistence and reminds me of the fourth month of a teacher training program and how this month is typically the toughest one. This month requires great discipline and patience. But this sloka says it all. Stand strong and stable amid these challenging times. This month tends to be overwhelming. Your desires to run from this discipline may be stronger. Anger and many other emotions may even appear. But as the Gita suggests - Stand firm this month, keep your mind calm and joyful, equalize your breath and do not be distracted by external things. If you can do this - " you surely are a yogi destined for happiness!!"

We have an exciting month coming up! Keep your head up! You are doing great!



In Joy and Support,
Vicki