OFF THE MAT
and into the Life ORIGIN COLUMNIST | Bryan Kest
I
f what we do on the yoga mat does not help us in our lives, then our mat work is narrow, limited and largely unsuccessful. A yoga practice is ultimately about elevating one’s awareness and strengthening the qualities of the mind that are most beneficial. These qualities not only have a huge impact on our physical, mental and emotional well being, they can also benefit all the relationships in our life. So not only are we working on strengthening these qualities on our mats, we are also working on strengthening these qualities every moment (as much as possible) in our lives. To me this is the ultimate activism. Not the activities we partake in, but the quality of our minds that endeavors upon any action we partake in.
As far as I know, yoga teachings, as well as most spiritual and uplifting messages, don’t tell us to feed the homeless or adopt orphaned children or recycle or even spread the message of yoga.
These teachings and messages tell us to feed our humility, adopt truth, and recycle compassion. Like Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see.” In other words, “It can’t change in the world if it doesn’t change in our own hearts and minds.” Helping others and/or doing good deeds can be very, very rewarding for all involved. Yet there is no greater contribution toward the wellbeing of all than elevating our own consciousness. This is the goal of the yoga practice. Very soon aspiring yogis will recognize (become aware) of the opportunities in their lives outside of their asana practice and their meditation chamber to practice their yoga. As this happens, the yogi aspirant (sadhaka) becomes a yogi. This means one is aware of one’s own thoughts and actions and begins to guide oneself toward silence, benevolence and service. We become aware of our own thoughts and actions so we can begin to stop giving mental energy and unconscious loyalty to any qualities of mind or body that we find harmful to others and ourselves. This means our yoga practice (sadhana) infiltrates our whole lives.
This is probably why the goal of yoga is enlightenment. 34 |
OriginMagazine.com
Enlightenment means to see, this means to become aware or awareness. It is only in awareness you begin to notice latent or unconscious tendencies, which can then be disempowered if we choose.
For example: We may notice we are judging someone because of their behavior, which we find inappropriate, and we smile and allow ourselves to move away from this behavior.
Or maybe we notice we are biting our nails or gossiping. Speaking negatively about others. How about angry thoughts, fearful thoughts, vengeful, regretful, or simply redundant thoughts? What about noticing your stomach is full but you are still eating? Most of what I have mentioned here exists in most people habitually. In other words, they are not even aware they are doing it. Maybe that is why we are told to “know thyself,” because you do not have a choice about partaking if you are not aware you are partaking.
As your awareness increases, you have the constant opportunity to refine your thoughts and actions. Aligning them with your truth, which might be called “Harmony.” In this way your whole life becomes a yoga practice, not just the time you are on your mat. Yet the time on your mat is supremely important. If awareness is the seed that the tree of harmony sprouts from, then your mat time is the fertile soil, which nourishes the seed and continues nourishing the tree.
WWW.POWERYOGA.COM Power Yoga On Demand
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