LIVING YOGA BLOG

At the beginning of class, I invite everyone to set an intention for their practice, something personal to them that creates the bond between the physical practice and the mind.  This is a conscious way to bring it together on the mat, and then the hope is to take that intention off the mat and into daily life.  Often times I share with the class the intention I’ve been holding for my practice.  It’s been the same one for a couple of weeks and comes from the book, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  Here are the Four Agreements outlined in the book:

1.  Be Impeccable With Your Word

2.  Don’t Take Anything Personally

3.  Don’t Make Assumptions

4.  Always Do Your Best

I’d read this book years ago and was re-directed to it recently by a good friend who wisely sensed that I was beginning to take a few things rather personally.  After re-reading the second agreement I realized that I was also Making Assumptions around the situation.

Ruiz says “The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth.  We make assumptions about what others are doing or thinking- we take it personally, then we blame them and react by sending emotional poison with our word.  We make an assumption, we misunderstand, we take it personally, and we end up creating a whole big drama for nothing.”

I was creating the drama in my head, and while I can usually stop, take a deep breath and bring myself back to the moment…I let this one snowball.  I’m sure you all know what happens when one thought leads to another.  Well in my case, they kept piling up and sooner than later I found I had created a whole story in my head and had forgotten how to deal with THE issue of the moment.  I took information personally and started to create assumptions in my mind about whom, what and why.  I was losing sight of what the actual situation was, the real issue that needed to be dealt with.  These assumptions were made because I started to take it personally.  I was creating my own suffering, all in my head.

After reflecting on the agreements from the book I was able to snap out of it.  I felt so much lighter, like my own personally contrived burden was lifted off my shoulders.  It literally felt as if I took the heavy weights off and was able to see things more clearly, as they were, not as I was concocting them to be.  I took the agreements to my mat and set the intention of not to take personally anything that came up during my practice and to detach from judgment about how bad my practice might be since my mind was so ‘busy’.  I chose to re-align myself back to higher energies.  I chose to get unstuck.  Within a few minutes of creating spaciousness in the practice, I was able to take me, myself, and I out of focus and instead, bring myself back to center.

Namaste,

Claudine

Lately, my meditation practice has been consistent and deep.  I’ve actually been craving time on my cushion.  I’ve been looking forward to sitting in front of my altar, burning shredded Palo Santo, lighting a candle and applying whatever essential oil I’m drawn to that day or feel I need. 

Over the Memorial Day weekend my aunt came over and wanted to see where I meditated.  Then she asked me what I do when I meditate, she asked ‘what are you supposed to be thinking about?’  When one first begins practicing dhyana or meditation, it’s recommended to focus on your breathing, or a single object in your mind or a mantra.  I often read a translated version of the Tao by Wayne Dyer to help me focus and come back from where the mind has been.  For a few short moments I had my aunt sit at the altar and told her to just breathe and find comfort in stillness, as that is exactly where my meditation practice is right now.  I think perhaps, it is stronger as I cultivate a deeper pratyahara practice, or the fifth limb of Patanjali’s eightfold path of yoga.  Pratyahara is the withdrawal of your senses, where you are so focused on your core being, your center, that all outward distractions become mute.  When the distractions cease, the mind can then rest.

Savasana is a great pose and time to practice pratyahara.  It only takes 5 minutes to turn down the volume of your surroundings enough to turn inward. 

Give it a try….Begin lying on your back.  Have your arms resting beside you, but not touching you, with your palms face up.  Separate your legs about hips distance apart and let your feet and ankles roll out to the side (if it’s more comfortable for you back, place a rolled up blanket under your knees).  Close your eyes and begin to focus on your breathing.  Then feel the rise and fall of your belly as the breath moves in and out.  As you start to hone in, feel the outer lines of your physical body begin to dissolve.  Be present to what you feel and what your experience is. 

Deep Peace.

Claudine