Yoga in this World

The way through this world is more difficult to find than the way beyond it nn-Wallace Stevens from Answer to Papini.

Yoga was born in India, its chronological origins lost in the mists of time, given the popularity that Yoga enjoys these days most of us know that much. What we don’t know is that Yoga is not just an Indian practice. When at ease and at our best we are all practising Yoga.

I have taught Yoga for over 20 years and the more I practice and teach the more I realize that all human beings are at some inherent level natural Yogis.Just watch your toddler or infant move, then open a yoga book and see the astonishing similarities! Babies actually practice Asanas (Yoga postures)! As for the calm, contemplative state of mind that Yoga promotes, well, who doesn’t have memories of communing with nature, experiencing love or performing a rewarding, fulfilling task?

Aren’t these experiences of enlightenment in the world? As Zen teacher Suzuki tells us “enlightenment is an ordinary experience”, not a lofty goal attained through difficulty and struggle.Our brains are actually designed to provide these experiences through the fluctuations of brain waves. These span the spectrum of thought from planning and problem solving to relaxed inspiration and to deep sleep. Thus Yoga in a sense teaches us nothing new; it is in our natures to relax, contemplate, to enjoy living in our bodies and to feel a connection with all of life, the problem is that we just forget! What a good facilitator can help us to do is remember what we know already.

One of the passages from “The Upanishads”, one of the classical text of Yoga Philosophy reads simply “…Remember , my soul, remember!” We know deep down in our heart and guts , and in our mind, when the mind is calm and clear, what is good and appropriate and what is not. The trick is to re learn (remember) through practices and techniques, how to calm and clear body and mind.

Yoga offers us those techniques, and the gifts of time and space to breathe, rest, and live more deeply. Body and mind are seen in Yoga as a continuum. Not a body and a mind but “bodymind”. Since the age of Enlightenment we have identified with reason and looked at the body as an inferior creature to be controlled or as a useful machine. Sadly we have treated the natural world in the same manner, the tragic consequences to our ecology are a result of this divided awareness.

Enlightenment, say the Yogis, is a psychophysical experience, one of union and not split of mind and body. The word yoga in fact translates as Union. The core of Yoga practice is slowing down and focusing our attention in a relaxed way, on a simple experiential object of concentration, like breath. In our stressed out, hyper stimulated, worried and distracted culture it can be hard to find space and time to relax. The whole culture seems to be designed to ensure we don’t.
The popular culture provides a wealth of constant distractions which together with the general “business” of daily life makes that need to “go within” and look deeper practically impossible to attend to. Yet, like food and air, contemplation is necessary to human life.

The simple act of slowing down and attending could be so empowering that it may constitute a radically rebellious act, returning self healing powers to people thus making us less reliant on the Medical System, or giving us calm contentment, which would make us less vulnerable to the advertising industry and less willing to join the “rat race”.

Practicing Yoga today could be as simple as taking three easy steps; first setting regular time and space aside , unplugging the phone, minimizing distractions, and being open to hanging around the strange discomfort that can initially come from doing that. Second, engaging in simple slow and gentle physical activity(See my Yoga Flow sequences). Stretching infinitely slowly, focusing on sensations in the body, enjoying movement, having a hedonistic approach to it. Third, lying down on the floor to rest , observing breath and allowing thoughts to pass like clouds in the sky , like ripples in water. Without judging. Taking stock of how we are. Our bodies and minds are generous friends, and as such respond beautifully to being listened to. Healing, insight, clearer thinking and less addictive “neediness” and a sense of poise and increased energy are some of the rewards. Yoga believes that, as we are all connected to one another and to all of life, any time spent promoting a peaceful state within our bodymind will have a ripple effect that will benefit the people close to us and the world at large.
This is not a self centred navel gazing exercise in transcendental escapism , rather it is a simple way of a freeing mental and physical space so as to restore the clarity and the strength to help us engage with our lives and with the world in more creative resourceful and meaningful ways.