April 24, 2013 § 1 Comment

YOGASH CHITTA VRITTI NIRODHAH

योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥२॥

yogaś-citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ

When you are in a state of yoga, all misconceptions that can exist in the mutable aspect of human beings disappear.

After practicing yoga for some time we begin to experience something of the ultimate goal of yoga, which presents itself slowly, meticulously, surely. We begin to long for the day when our yoga will finally take us to this place. To a place of stillness – where the mind does not move us in endless circles through fear, ego, desire and seemingly unbeatable habits. The physical practice of yoga becomes a ritual that we return to, that we are energised through, and through which we determine our true self from the facade of the self.

Yet how many people begin yoga in the search to become flexible? (Among many other physical intentions, not to mention losing weight.) I find the word “stretching” to be the most inappropriate word used for yoga in the modern context. The body does not need to engage in “stretching”. For those starting a yoga practice, it is essential to understand that flexibility should not be your goal. The body first needs to become strong. External strength is equal to internal strength – the two are interwoven. Flexibility will come easily through consistent and correct practice. This is the intelligence of the Ashtanga Yoga “Primary Series” – which focuses on the strength of the body, correct alignment, and the safe practice of asana with guidance from an experienced practitioner.

So why is it important to be strong? First, to avoid injury. Any injury you have will take millions of seconds longer to heal than it did to create. Second, to grow and become strong and in turn to radiate inner strength. Finally and perhaps most importantly, in order to face your true self – and you must be very strong for this.

I have attended so many yoga classes where teachers lead students into intensive (and often misaligned) stretches, when the student’s bodies are simply not able to yet hold the posture comfortably, if at all. I have asked myself why they do this? It reveals the pace of our “modern” lives where students (with teachers who encourage this) want to feel they have achieved something in each class, pushed themselves or advanced in a posture since the past week. It also signifies the ability of bodies to quickly gain superficial flexibility, and the long time required to gain real strength. But by over-stretching the body you are actually becoming weaker. It is counterproductive to any genuine yoga practice, especially if we consider the correct aim of yoga to be control over the mind, the body and the senses.

If you want to be flexible, and truly flexible (flexibility that derives from strength and control), you must first commit to a slow and honest yoga practice. This will open the path to our foremost intention in yoga, to become free from the ills of the mind.

“If you want to get there fast, take it slow.”

Annabel