In my last few weeks of being in one place for an extended time (a new thing for me!), I have been exploring new ways to think and teach about Yoga. This week, there was a day with no lights in the Yoga Studio, so I took that as a sign...a new theme to teach!
Yoga is a way to turn on the Lights of Awareness of Body, Mind and Soul.
The poses rely on total integrity from the foundations of the feet and hands through the knees and elbows and up to the hips and shoulders. From there, a sense of lightness happens. I love that the English word "light" has 2 meanings....both of which can apply to Yoga. Lightness as the opposite of dark and the opposite of heavy. When we have these in the body, we have awareness! The strechting of muscles and opening of joints is a way for us to feel the opposite of heavy into our bodies, and this is a serious thing. I mean, we have 1 body this lifetime, so we better learn about it!!! There's no trading it in!!! And when the Pranic body awakens (yogic term for energy body) we have the opposite of dark.
When there is presence in the body, we are able to turn on the lights of awareness of the mind. For most people I know, that awareness comes first from observing...where is my mind (the Brain lives in the skull....but the mind is NOT that!) and then through breath, focus and sensation....we become aware of where our attention is. I also deeply believe in the power of manifestation and so when we become aware of a wondering mind, or a mind planting seeds of mis-content....we can change it and put our attention on what we DO want. This is a huge step in the illumination process.
When we are present in body and peaceful and intentional with our minds....then we can reach a place of lightness of spirit. Spirituality is so often a heavy and serious thing (which many times....it is!) and it is also a way for us to lose the 'body bag' and just be at our essence, which is light and love.
Just as the lights of your house, office, etc. require electriticy to operate....so do the lights of awareness in your being. And the current is your breath. Use it to illuminate the dark and scary places, to calm your mind and to connect to all things... the pulse of life lives in your breath and it is absolutley essential to turn on the lights of awareness!
So as you dive back to your next Yoga practice....consider it as an illumination. Turn on the lights in your body by stretching with integirty and intention. Illuminate your mind with clarity and positive thinking and connect to the infinate light of consciousness which is waiting for you....right now!
