For the past three weeks, we’ve already established that yoga goes beyond the practice of the asanas. It’s a whole practice that helps us integrate the mind, body and spirit.
In Yoga Sutras, an ancient text that dates back two thousand years ago, Patanjali states that the essence of yoga is stilling of the mind. This supports the notion that yoga is more than just a physical exercise.
But so many yogis get caught up in the disturbances of the external world which disrupts the stillness of the mind. I was one of them when I began my practice.
I took the materialistic mindset when I measured yoga based on how well I perform each asanas, especially the ones that only I can perform in my class. Because I tied my practice based on the accumulation of poses that I can do, I would easily lose my sense of worth when I fail.
I was already teaching a few classes when I felt flat on my face trying to execute Bakasana (crow pose) in front of the class. I was so embarrassed because I can do this pose with ease, no challenge at all.
I went home crying and silly me thought it was the end of the world. You see, so many yoga teachers needed an intervention. I was one of them.
I was distracted and attached my worthiness in my class’ admiration of how well I perform each asana. I was too hard on myself every time and would take no single day off, even when I’m on my feminine cycle.
You see, we can all get so distracted with the material rewards of our external world and this creates disruption of the natural state of stillness of our mind. It makes you forget and disconnects you from your true self.
Our day to day activities stimulate our mind and draw our attention towards our external world, making us forget our essence and what really matters.
In yoga, these interactions create ripples called vrittis that reverberate on the surface of our mind and can become an unconscious behaviour and habit if we are not aware of it.
When we get caught in the cycle of action and reaction based on the stimulus from the external world, the more emotional and mental storms there will be on our consciousness, the more disruption in the mind’s natural state of clarity.
Yoga invites you to withdraw your senses from the external world and redirect the mind to the inner experience so you can still the mind and see the depths of the inner self.
In yoga, we call this nirodah or stillness.
A mind trained in the state of nirodah is more adept at breaking the cycle of action and reaction based on the external world. Breaking through this cycle improves our quality of life.
Imagine living the embodiment of your beliefs and values when you release the pressure to conform to society.
Or when you have to listen to the inner wisdom within you even when you are told otherwise by well-meaning adults and authorities in our lives.
Imagine being able to stay calm when things don’t go as planned. Or finding happiness amidst pain and challenges in life.
Stillness is the antidote to our busy-ness and separation.
So how do we cultivate still in our daily life?
Let me share with some ways:
1 – Meditate
Practice meditating for a few minutes (start with the easiest for you) each day for the next 30 days. Bring your attention to your heart center in a physical standpoint. Also bring your attention to your breath, the rising and falling sensation in your chest as you breath.
Notice the fluctuations of your thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations without judgment.
Breathe.
As you enter the deeper space of stillness, stay there for a few minutes. Rest your mind there and use your inner listening, feel through the body.
Do this every time you feel like you’re on the autopilot state or the action-reaction state for at least a minute. Make this a part of your morning routine. Or instead of immediately checking your phone when you wake, bring yourself in the inner realm of the body and your consciousness. Do this with no expectation, no attachment.
2 – Breath work
There are many breathing techniques or pranayama in yoga and you can simply search in the internet for a comprehensive guide (I intend to make one, too. You may check back on my website to see these guides soon).
But the simplest breathing technique that I can teach you is deepening the inhales and lengthening the exhales.
You can count 1-5 as you inhale and count 1-8 for your exhales. Do this at least ten times daily for the next 30 days and see how it changes how you feel, even your body posture.
3 – Hold the pose
Have you ever encountered an asana that’s so challenging for you? I did and it’s Bakasana or Crow Pose.
It’s challenging for me because I’m not naturally strong in the upper body. While I’ve made peace with this fact, I have worked my body to gain the strength to hold myself in the pose.
If you are facing a challenging pose, whether it’s one of the basics, like chair or downward facing dog, or something challenging like bakasana, try to stay in the pose longer trying to not make any micro-movement.
Holding the pose will challenge your mental and heart space. Many things will come to mind and you will start feeling emotions that may be unfamiliar to you. This is where you’ll discover that yoga gives you the strength to be brave enough to face any challenge in your practice.