I remember 13 years ago when I met Lindya. It was after an all night ceremony with old friends and new ones. As morning came and we started to relax, Lindya was just getting going. There was this feeling there that she wanted to go all the way, find complete emancipation, and wasn't going to stop until she got there. Her friend was trying to get her to chill, but there was no way. She was a woman on a mission.
I personally found it very attractive and for 3 years, she became my love. But I have learned for myself, that sometimes, we just need a break.
I took one the other day. After a wonderful day that contained about 5 hours of asana practice, observing the intermediate II class taught by Raya, and then having an impromptu guys night out, I woke up incredibly tired. I had only slept about 5 hours, took a very strong class from 7-8:30 AM, and when it was time to go back to the hall to practice, I just didn't have it. I needed rest.
I wound up going to the movies at 12 noon to see X-Men. When I got there, I of course found out that the schedule was wrong and the only thing playing was How To Train Your Dragon 2 in 3D (Yeah, thanks, India!). Ok, though, guess I'll see that. I was a little hesitant, but my mind immediately landed on the movie, the rest of the world fell away, my breath deepened and I wound up crying at least 3 times! Yes, it is a cartoon for those of you curious right now. Like I said, I needed a break.
It takes a tremendous amount of courage to practice as intensely as we are here in Pune. It is seriously no joke. But it is not just the intensity of the physical practice that I speak of. Asana's, when truly penetrated, have a deeply profound pyschological and spiritual effect. They have potential to shift us at the core of our being, if we are able to let go and be mindful enough to let them. And the process of transformation is not always easy. We can, at times, feel confused, discombobulated, like we're trudging through sludge, but all the while knowing that we are on the path.
BKS Iyengar has said time and time again, he experiences all the eight limbs of Astanga Yoga in one single asana. When we truly contemplate what that means, he is saying he experiences (or focuses on experiencing) Truth, Non-Violence, Non-Stealing, Devotion to the Source of Creation, Withdrawl of the Senses, Concentration, Meditation, and Oneness.....amongst other things, in every asana! Clearly this shows us how the body truly can be a temple and an asana truly can be a prayer. And clearly it shows us how deeply penetrative an asana, or asana practice, can be.
It reminds me of that joke about the Zen monk who buys a hot dog from a stand in New York City. When he overpays and asks for the change, the attendant looks at him and says, "Sir, change comes from within!" Well, change does come from within. And it takes many forms. It is sometimes smooth and easy, but often it gets messy, is challenging, and does not look the way we want it to. And sometimes we just need a break, a movie, a bike ride, or whatever it is that gives us some space. And in that space, as I'm sure we've all found at one time or another, is sometimes exactly the healing we've been looking for.
I personally found it very attractive and for 3 years, she became my love. But I have learned for myself, that sometimes, we just need a break.
I took one the other day. After a wonderful day that contained about 5 hours of asana practice, observing the intermediate II class taught by Raya, and then having an impromptu guys night out, I woke up incredibly tired. I had only slept about 5 hours, took a very strong class from 7-8:30 AM, and when it was time to go back to the hall to practice, I just didn't have it. I needed rest.
I wound up going to the movies at 12 noon to see X-Men. When I got there, I of course found out that the schedule was wrong and the only thing playing was How To Train Your Dragon 2 in 3D (Yeah, thanks, India!). Ok, though, guess I'll see that. I was a little hesitant, but my mind immediately landed on the movie, the rest of the world fell away, my breath deepened and I wound up crying at least 3 times! Yes, it is a cartoon for those of you curious right now. Like I said, I needed a break.
It takes a tremendous amount of courage to practice as intensely as we are here in Pune. It is seriously no joke. But it is not just the intensity of the physical practice that I speak of. Asana's, when truly penetrated, have a deeply profound pyschological and spiritual effect. They have potential to shift us at the core of our being, if we are able to let go and be mindful enough to let them. And the process of transformation is not always easy. We can, at times, feel confused, discombobulated, like we're trudging through sludge, but all the while knowing that we are on the path.
BKS Iyengar has said time and time again, he experiences all the eight limbs of Astanga Yoga in one single asana. When we truly contemplate what that means, he is saying he experiences (or focuses on experiencing) Truth, Non-Violence, Non-Stealing, Devotion to the Source of Creation, Withdrawl of the Senses, Concentration, Meditation, and Oneness.....amongst other things, in every asana! Clearly this shows us how the body truly can be a temple and an asana truly can be a prayer. And clearly it shows us how deeply penetrative an asana, or asana practice, can be.
It reminds me of that joke about the Zen monk who buys a hot dog from a stand in New York City. When he overpays and asks for the change, the attendant looks at him and says, "Sir, change comes from within!" Well, change does come from within. And it takes many forms. It is sometimes smooth and easy, but often it gets messy, is challenging, and does not look the way we want it to. And sometimes we just need a break, a movie, a bike ride, or whatever it is that gives us some space. And in that space, as I'm sure we've all found at one time or another, is sometimes exactly the healing we've been looking for.
NIce, Jory. Hope you are still on the road to feeling better.
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