Threading lessons and thoughts
(Newsletter 08/25/21)
I often sometimes reflect on why do we do the things we do. What’s the intent behind them? Why am I on my mat? My the heck am I getting up at 6am?!
It’s the lessons. It’s the opportunity to thread (sutra) one piece of information to the next. It’s the space to expand our conscious awareness and to control the activities of the mind. I can safely say mine was a hot mess for many years but through this practice, I’ve a much better handle on the chaos, staying true to my beliefs and letting judgement pass over my head.
The mind-body is connected. Just as the words imply. Our body can react a certain way to a situation/ impact and send signals to the mind. It then stores that memory for future protection. And so, sometimes can trigger auto responses (flight, fight or freeze) automatically and it is up to us to use the mind to take back control.
The mind alone though isn’t synonymous with the brain. It’s your beliefs. Your thoughts. Imaging and attitudes.
And so the Yoga Sutra’s offer us a pathway to control the mind. So rather than ‘yoking’ the mind, body and spirit - it’s yoking the mind to the object of concentration without deviation (I’m pretty sure I grabbed this winning line from Laura).
The first 4 verses go (side note: I can’t add in the correct characters due to limitations of squarespace):
Atha yoganusasanam: Now the teachings of yoga
Yogas citta vritti nirodhah: Yoga is the stilling of the mind into silence
Tada drastuh svarupe ‘vasthanam: The the Seer (Self) abides in His own nature
Vritti sarupyam itaratra: Otherwise, at other times, the Seer is absorbed in the changing stages of the mind
If we can still the mind into silence - we create space for our deeper Self to rise up. If not - we risk the chance of falling victim to identifying with perceptions and labels that we and society sets upon us. If we’re looking to shift out of destructive habits/ looking to grow - how can we, if we still identify with that ‘person’?
But we’re still human and have to live in this world with years and layers of past experiences and beliefs to move through. Live events and commitments to honor, with bills, mortgages and rent to pay.
So, to help me clear the mind (and stay committed) - I’m setting myself a 30 Days of Practice challenge and am opening this up to the community to join. If you’d like to check it out, keep reading below.
Outside of trying to memorize the verses of the Sutras, I’ve been keeping my head down and focusing on the house (and it’s members), training for Hood to Coast and soaking up the last rays of sun that summer has to offer. I’m still off the gram and I definitely miss seeing what everyone’s been up to so if you’ve anything new going on, share my way. :)
Zita
