The Vinyasa of Life |
Asana practice teaches us that nothing is permanent. Things arise, they abide, and they dissolve. Vinyasa yoga--a flowing sequence of poses that connects the breath with movement--offers a lovely embodiment of this impermanence. The beauty of Vinyasa practice lies in the way it presents a pose, allows us to settle there (even if only for a breath), and then completes it, only to have another one rise up to take its place. Vinyasa can also apply to a single pose. We initiate the pose consciously, sustain it for several breaths, and then finish it before moving into the next. Our lives are like that too--every moment arises, is all there is for that moment, and then dissolves as a new moment takes its place. |
On the Mat. Practice a mini Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara) each morning, moving from one pose into the next using your breath as the catalyst. Inhale your arms overhead (Urdvha Hastasana), exhale as you fold forward from the hip joint (Uttanasana), inhale your body halfway up to a flat back, exhale back into the forward fold. Inhale as you rise up and lift your arms overhead. Exhale your hands to your heart in prayer position (Anjali Mudra). Continue, adding standing poses, backbends and balancing poses. |
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Off the Mat. Notice the Vinyasa flow of your everyday life. Perhaps you are better at getting something started (arising) but not so good at the details (abiding), or you lose interest before the project ends (dissolving). Or maybe in the reverse--inititing something may make you nervous, but taking charge of the work at hand appeals to your highly motivated personality. Remember: How you complete an action is as important as how you begin. |
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~ Swami Satyananda Saraswati |
excerpted from "2010 Yoga Planner" |
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The Winter Blahs |