Feeding the Soul
What is Yoga? More than you think!
How well I can recall scenes from 30 years ago of rushing against the clock (the clock wins!), arguing with traffic (traffic wins!), and changing my clothes at stoplights (as modestly as possible) in order to try to arrive at an evening yoga class within some modicum of timeliness. Habitually sliding in after class had started, I was always welcomed and continually amazed at the journey. After about an hour of class, I consistently found that there was no need to hurry, the feeling of being peace filled welled up in me and life seemed a whole lot easier than it did an hour ago. Thus began my introduction to yoga practice.
The first classes I took were at a no longer existing gym called Bally’s. There was a nominal additional charge for yoga classes and eventually, an instructor by the name of Zuzana, began to offer classes consistently. She is now the owner of Metta Yoga and continues to inspire with her unique style of teaching and warm open heart. How fortunate for me that she was my first consistent yoga guide.
While my on-the-mat yoga practice was limited to perhaps a class a week it, combined with consistent meditation, was enough to make a noticeable difference. When I was in my late 30s, upon awakening, my back would feel stiff if I had not practiced yoga over the last week. Other noticing began to happen. All of this was underpinned with a deep question, ‘how does this transformation from a helter-skelter to a peaceful-easy feeling happen’?
So, purely for my own deepening understanding, the decision was made to take yoga-teacher training. Two-hundred hours plus later, I still did not have an answer. What I did have was a starting recognition of the deep-rooted spiritual principles that are foundational to real yoga. These principles were not in conflict with my at-the-time religious beliefs; in fact, they offered an expansive, fresh perspective that I had not experienced. And so the invitation deepened. An additional 1000 hours of training later, plus many more guiding and studying, the principles began to root more and more deeply.
Yoga has become a common term, yet in the West it is mostly misunderstood as a physical practice. The four letters that make up this word have created lifelong, sustainable practices for anyone. Yoga means to yoke, to connect body and mind via breath, to connect human and Divine via breath, to merge towards the recognition of Oneness. Yoga is understood to have eight branches or limbs, of which just one is the asana or movement practice. This first of these branches, the Yamas, are foundational to the practice of traditional yoga, as are each of the limbs.
“The yamas [& niyamas] are for the purpose of purifying the worldly vessel so that which is infinite, pure and untarnished may be perceived. They are like the cloth that is used to shine the mirror, taking off the dust and dirt so that the clear reflection of reality may be perceived. “
The yamas are comprised of 5 basic observances ranging from kindness to truthfulness, not stealing, non-possessiveness and restraint. Just like the Ten Commandments, on the surface these seem pretty straight forward. And, like the Ten Commandments, there are many layers to explore and opportunities for personal application that invite purifying through the mirror of this earthly traveling vessel (body and mind).
These principles feed my soul again and again and come with deeper inquiry and a willingness to look at my life, my practices and habits through a fresh lens. If you are curious and would like to learn more, contact me here.