Yoga Had Nothing To Do With Physical Poses

The most interesting fact I’ve learned in Yoga Teacher Training is that yoga originally had absolutely nothing to do with physical poses. What? No pretzel moves? Well, there was one pose: sitting comfortably. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book 2, Sutra 46 states “Asana is a steady, comfortable posture.” That’s not as easy as it seems for long periods of time. People have difficulty sitting still, so yoga was developed over time to include all the poses we know and still develop today.

So what was yoga about all those centuries ago when it began, and more importantly, what does it offer for us today? Yoga is knowing ourselves and controlling negative thoughts in our daily lives. From the beginning yoga emphasized proper breathing, meditation, and diet. See, things haven’t changed much in thousands of years! The Sutras advise staying away from pleasures because they can bring unhappiness afterwards. This is a difficult one to accept. However, in many ways, the Yoga Sutras resemble the Ten Commandments by advising non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, and non-greed. They encouraged people to be clean (purity) and to do their best without worrying about the outcome (contentment). People should not cause pain and should accept pain. Practice leads to a certain detachment bringing a better life without constant desires for material things. The Sutras offer practical advice about what to do with evil people and those who intend harm. The ultimate message is to stop going to the outside world for happiness, then these instances don’t matter.

If you think you can’t do yoga because of physical challenges, think again. Everyone can find poses to practice then combine each movement with good breathing. Moving with poses begins the yoga journey. I practiced for over a decade before trying meditation and now I have even greater challenges and purpose. I don’t think I’ll ever reach the state of “Samadhi” (bliss) but I’ll certainly enjoy continuing to try and notice the changes in my everyday life because of yoga.

March 2nd, 2012 | Tags: , , , , | Category: All My Writing, Yoga Online | One comment

I Can’t Be Humble, I’m On Facebook

For the first time ever, our church gathered writings from parishioners and created a Lenten devotional booklet.

Do we need these writings? Yes.

Today I found myself looking at an Easter display and thinking I needed to get the ingredients for our Easter dinner. “Wait a minute,” I thought, “Easter is 40 days away.”

I need Lent.

My writing is based on the passage for Ash Wednesday, Luke 18:9-14. For those of you who know about our decision to move our local site, Rockville Central, exclusively to Facebook, I wrote this before we had the idea. We’ve had so much publicity because of the move that I believe my resolve was being tested.

During Lent I never give up or “fast” from something. When I was younger my minister encouraged us to add something, perhaps to make the world a better place, and this idea has stuck with me. To me Lent is a time to take a look at myself by adding a daily reading of the Bible, a contemplative book, or a Lenten study. This is why I love the idea of our church having a Lenten Devotional so much.

In today’s reading, Jesus tells the story of a Pharisee who is praying with a tax collector. The Pharisee thanks God that “I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers or even like this tax collector.” Meanwhile the tax collector beats his breast and begs “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

Jesus’ response is to be humble because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

How often do we think we are better than others and “toot our own horn”? In today’s world Facebook and other social networking sites are always open for bragging, pride, narcissism and egotistical behavior. We’re encouraged to market ourselves and list our accomplishments. Where do you draw the line when you can broadcast anything every hour of every day? Can you find the restraint to not judge others and be modest?

Lent is a time to turn to a daily reading and find the strength to look in your heart and be humble.

March 9th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , | Category: All My Writing | One comment