IR 8


Q & Awith SindyWarren, author of Radi8: Using the Practice of Yoga to Cultivate Your Inner Shine


Q: How long have you


been practicing yoga, and what was it about the prac- tice that appealed to you? I started practicing yoga


in earnest in 2003. I have always loved towork out and initially was drawn to the physicality of the practice. The yoga studio where I first started to practice taught a pretty athletic style of yoga. I pretty quickly realized,


though, that there was a lot more to the practice than just a good sweat. I felt energized yet also calmafter practice. I felt more spacious, not just in my body, but in my emotional and energetic state. I started to notice that lessons I was learning on the mat, like stay and breathe even when the sensations get uncomfortable, were translating to my life outside of the yoga room. Q: When did you become a yoga teacher and why did


you decide to teach? I was a dedicated student for over a decade before I even


considered participating in a teacher training program. I became a teacher in 2014.When I began the teacher training, it was really just to deepen my own practice; I did not think I would teach. But when I tried my hand at teaching, it felt like I was coming alive. Sharing the beauty of the practice has been a huge gift in my life. Q: What gave you the idea for Radi8? Through my experience teaching I realized how many


students knew little or nothing about the philosophical underpinnings of the practice. Yoga is not just a physical workout that provides flexibility, mobility and strength. It is also a path of self-study, acceptance, compassion, connec- tion, and so much more. To me, this is the part of the prac- tice that is truly transformational. So I wanted to write some- thing that would showmodern yogis, and even just the yoga- curious, the depth of the practice in an accessible way. Radi8 runs through each of the traditional parts or “limbs” of yoga philosophy with personal anecdotes and practical sugges- tions for incorporating the principles of yoga into daily life. Q: Yoga can sometimes seem like an exclusive kind of


club. What do you think of that? Yoga is not a practice for the famous, or the rich, or the


thin, or the flexible, or the Caucasian. It’s a practice for everyone.While social media depictions of the practice may suggest otherwise, we need to take a step back and under- stand that the ubiquitous images we see of beautiful yogis walking on their hands or placing their feet behind their heads are curated. They portray a carefully edited sliver of a practice that is meant to be more of an internal experience than an external one. It may take effort and discernment to find the right community and the right teacher to learn the true meaning of yoga, but it is out there. Q: What are the eight “limbs” of the practice? First is the yamas, or behavior restraints. This is a code


of ethics that impacts how we act in relation to our world. Second is the niyamas, or internal positive restraints. These dictate how we relate to ourselves. Third is asana, or the physical postures. Fourth is pranayama, or breath control, which creates our vital energy. Fifth is pratyahara, or sense withdrawal. Here we turn our focus inward, turning away


fromthe external world. Sixth is dharana, whichmeans con- centration. This is the beginning stage of meditation. Seventh is dhayana, or meditation. Eighth is Samadhi, which translates as enlightenment. Q: Why do you think most people in the West who


practice yoga don’t know about all of eight limbs of the practice? Modern yoga has focused primarily on the physical


practice, which is really only one-eighth of the practice. I think this is because yoga got swept up in the wave of the exercise craze, where the focus in on the body, rather than what’s inside the body. It takes a skilled and knowledgeable teacher, and a curious student, to explore the more meaning- ful parts of the practice. This is less of a “quick fix” andmore of a deep dive. In the West, it is a societal norm to seek instant gratification. Q: Is the physical practice of yoga enough for some


people? In theory, one can practice all eight limbs while on the


yoga mat. However, I believe spiritual study and introspec- tion should be practiced separately from asana. I have learned a lot of yoga philosophy while on my mat, yet I have learned even more, and more about myself, through study and meditation. Of course not everyone is interested in pur- suing the more spiritual and intellectual parts of the practice. And that’s perfectly ok. Asana is a great vehicle to increase flexibility, strength and mobility. Q: Do you think modern yoga has watered down too


much of the spirituality of the practice? Personally I do. If yoga is simply physical exercise, it’s


got a lot of competition. But if it is practiced more in line with its original intent and more holistically, it is truly a transformational tool. The biggest gifts I have received from the practice are not just what it’s done for me physi- cally, but what it’s done for me emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. Q: Is this yoga philosophy that you describe a religion? No. It is more of a humanistic way of life that can com-


plement any other spiritual or religious tradition the practi- tioner engages in. It is also entirely consistent with a com- plete lack of religion. Q: Do you think any parts of the philosophy conflict


with some religious beliefs? No. This philosophy is essentially aboutmoving through


the world with more kindness and compassion, for oneself and the world around us. Q: A lot of the philosophy you describe seems to talk


about non-attachment as an ideal, or as a way out of suf- fering.Do you really think we should not be attached to our loved ones? To the things that bring us joy and meaning in this world? The idea of non-attachment is probably the most misun-


derstood part of yoga philosophy. Non-attachment does not mean not caring. In fact, it means the opposite. Attachment necessarily involves selfishmotivation – what is in this (rela- tionship, object, etc.) for me?When we strip away our self- ish motivations, we are left with a pure form of love. Also, when we learn to unhook from our attachments, even just a little, we will inevitably experience less suffering.We will be less dragged around by our emotions like a puppy on a leash and more steady and grounded in how we respond to life’s ups and downs.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48