The Gunas

Last week I wrote that one of the reasons we practice yoga is to address the Kleshas or five afflictions. This week we've been exploring another reason why we come to the mat and that is to find balance and not just the kind where you stand on one leg. Although being able to keep your center of gravity over your base of support in a more or less controlled manner is highly desirable, this week has been all about The Gunas-Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. 

The Gunas stem from classical Indian philosophy with mention of them in both the Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita. They go way back from a historical perspective, as I guess, even 2500 years ago the ancients had a sense that staying conscious of our overall equilibrium was a good place to be. The word "yoga" stems from the root word of "yug" which means to unite, to join or to come together. To me, this translates as the intertwining and equanimous state of our physical body, our mental/emotional and spiritual aspects of who we are. When we awaken to the interplay of these three aspects and recognize if they are cohabitating harmoniously, we can get feedback into their ever-shifting nature. And the practices of yoga and meditation support us in altering the balance if need be.

Each of the Gunas has their own characteristics. Imagine sitting on a see-saw with both sides of the plank being the same distance away from the earth. On one side sits Rajas, the other Tamas and the balancing point in the middle is Sattva. Our yoga practice aims to keep us as sattvic as possible, right in the middle between too much and too little.

Sattva is seen as a desirable state of consciousness equaling goodness, constructive energy and is harmonious. It is in this state that we have clarity showing itself as beauty, balance, and inspiration, and it promotes life, energy, health, and contentment.

I think of Rajas as being our more caffeinated selves, the energy of change, desire and effort often with an underlying sense of agitation. On the opposite end of the see-saw is Tamas, a heavy, darker energy reflective of inertia, lethargy and concealing the presence of consciousness.

All three Gunas are constantly in flux and our practices of yoga and meditation support us in recognizing how we can best maintain being more centered and close to the middle. The breath can reflect if we are pushing ourselves too hard (Rajas) if it is shallow, held or difficult to detect. If we pay attention, even in the most challenging of postures, to what is happening regarding how we are breathing, we know to stay where we're at or to dial it down.

The Gunas can also be thought of in terms of foods we eat with onions, garlic and lots of spice being rajasic and frozen, preserved or packaged food tamasic (with very little to no prana or life force). A sattvic diet is based on whole, fresh foods with no garlic, onions and just the right amount of spiciness. 

Overall, if we're overly amped, we might want to practice more calming postures or undertake restorative yoga to enhance a shift towards the middle and, conversely, if we are sluggish and need a boost, a more energizing vigorous practice could be the perfect medicine. The point is to pay attention to our current overall state and perhaps be mindful of always doing the same thing rather than having awareness as to what we need on that day or in a particular moment.

My thought of the week is to honor where we are and adjust accordingly. Pay attention to how the shifts take place on a daily basis and what you need to do to move back to the middle. Gone are the days where we sit on one side of the see-saw and the person on the other side goes flying through the air...find balance instead!

Kleshas

It's incredible to me that wisdom that was spoken about, passed along, and written down some 2500 years ago has relevance today. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is such a text, that to this day offers a framework for bringing ourselves, not only into balance, but to deepening the connection to a sense of who we really are. This past week we have been uncovering five afflictions known as Kleshas. Ignorance (Avidya), pride/ego (Asmita), desire (Raga), aversion (Dvesa) and fear of death/loss/change (Abhinivesa). It is thought that Avidya/ignorance seeds the next four and relates to estrangement from the self, the feeling of not really knowing who we are.

One of the founding reasons why we practice yoga is to address and eradicate these very real human conditions. Yet, most of us don't even know they exist. Just as an iceberg only has a small percent of it's total mass visible on the ocean surface, so too can be said for the Kleshas. We don't even know they exist and at the same time, it's these very things that create suffering in our lives. 

Imagine you've sauntered into a town that's been deserted for 100 years. You come across a house that still has furniture and you see what you think might be a bureau with a mirror over it but it has so much dust accumulated on its surface you're not quite certain. So you grab a cloth and slowly start to remove the layers of dust and begin to see a reflection...of you. The more you polish the mirror, the more clearly you see yourself reflected back. In much the same way this is why we practice yoga, as it offers a systematic method for us to begin to remove the multiple veils that we hide behind.

As DKV Desiskachar states in his book, "The Heart of Yoga" once we begin to gain clarity we need to continue on with our practices. Imagine if you only dusted the mirror once...over time more dust would settle and clarity would be lost. Not only are the Kleshas described in the Sutras of Patanjali, but so is a method of working with them through the eight-faceted path (known as Ashtangha Yoga). Once we begin to see the causes of suffering in our lives, we are given a way to work with them. The eight-faceted path is: internal/external observances (Yama/Niyama); poses (Asana); breath (Pranayama); withdrawal of senses (Pratyahara); concentration (Dharana); meditation (Dhyana); and enlightenment (Samadhi).

A large part of the practice relates to turning inward, into the self rather than looking outside of ourselves for answers. One of the most well-known sutras 1.2 is:

Yogas citta vrtti nirodha

Yoga is the restriction/cessation of the fluctuations of the mind

This basically encourages us to practice yoga in order to calm the constant buzz that visits us once we try to sit in meditation. I think of "vrttis" as hummingbirds around a feeder or a swarm of gnats that swirl around our heads. Constant and seemingly uncontrollable (especially at 2 am in the morning!), this whirlpool of thought drags us away from our interior selves, connecting us to our outer and often material world. 

When we learn to find a point of focus (breath, mantra, sound, sensation) it begins to lessen our awareness of the vrttis and invites us into our inner realm. The more frequently and regularly we do this, the easier it becomes and the more polished our mirror. As BKS Iyengar beautifully wrote in "Light On Yoga":

"As a breeze ruffles the surface of a lake and distorts the images reflected therein, so also the chitta vrtti disturb the peace of the mind. The still waters of a lake reflect the beauty around it. When the mind is still, the beauty of the Self is seen reflected in it. The yogi stills his mind by constant study and by freeing himself from desire."

Most of you who read this blog on a regular basis know that yoga is much more than a series of poses. It's a road map for creating more peace in our lives and when we live with a peaceful heart, we begin to foster and see that reflected back to ourselves. So this week, get out your cleaning cloth and start polishing...you'll be astounded by what you see!

Be Brave

When I walk to the edge of all the light I have and take that step into the darkness of the unknown, I believe one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for me to stand on or I will be taught to fly.

~ S. Marlin Edges

Sometimes we just have to be brave. Over the past few days, I have seen different expressions of people stepping into the vulnerability of who they are. So this week, my thought is to honor and acknowledge those people and those moments when we call upon a deeper sense of our abilities. Our courage.

This past week, we had a fun event created by some of my long-time, dedicated yoga students. A day to wear crazy pants and mix-matching tops followed by a picnic. Why? Well, sometimes we get very serious around our practice of yoga so this was a reminder to truly connect to the joy of the practice, the many laughs we've shared during classes, to celebrate community, and to do something that makes us a bit uncomfortable. I chose to wear patterned leggings the color of the ocean with an equally colorful top. Now not all of those attending class that morning knew we were having this theme and arrived in their usual yoga attire. As one of the mix-matched woman entered the studio, seeing others in "normal" attire said, "I feel like I'm in sixth grade...".

It reminded me of a time, long ago in my first marriage, going to a friends "red" birthday party. My then husband and I went to town on dressing completely in red -- pants, shirt, shoes-- and to top it off, spray coloring his beard and hair red. As we entered the party, everyone else was wearing a black top with a red flower, black pants with red shoes or a red scarf adorning their outfit. We both stood there, certainly looking a bit stunned with a growing sense of embarrassed awkwardness. So we did what many folks in their early 20's would do...stayed and drank too much to quell our own discomfort.

A second thing happened to create this week's thought. A new group of yoga teacher trainees launched into their first module of a 200-hour training. They are scheduled to graduate in October and are embarking on what can be quite a profound and confronting journey. I sat watching them take their first steps along this path and admired the courage it takes to say "yes" to such an undertaking. Part of the process is stepping into places that are unfamiliar which often leaves us feeling exposed and vulnerable.

The third piece to this theme happened somewhat unexpectedly. Our 14-year old granddaughter was competing in a recent equestrian team event. Much to their surprise, they won and qualified to head to Nationals in a few weeks. You could tell from the Facebook photos that their reaction was delight and disbelief in the same moment. Our granddaughter had hesitations about even competing, yet she stepped up without holding a particular expectation and now she's heading off to Nationals. It took a deep courage to step into something uncomfortable and challenging (and we're really proud of her and excited by this new experience!).

All of these stories have one thing in common-vulnerability. Moments exist when we are standing in that gap of time where we feel uncertain and in the pit of our stomachs we feel exposed. It's the fear of being judged that will often paralyze our willingness to take the next step. What our yoga practice teaches us is to step fully into this feeling of "uh-oh...I don't know" without wanting to cut and run or withdraw into our tortoise shell for protection. It's in these moments that we need to be brave.

Yoga teaches us to recognize these feelings and take the next step. Feel those butterflies? Stand or sit with your spine straight, chest open and shoulders down and back. Now take a deep breath, pause and go forward. It's as though we step up to that unknown edge and confront the choice of taking a risk or withdrawing. When we decide to launch ourselves forward, it can be exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. We can quietly whisper to ourselves, be brave, be brave...

When we stand in those moments of vulnerability, something stirs deep within our soul. We connect to the deeper sense of our own truth, rather than passively shying away from what matters to us. We step toward the discomfort because we intuitively know that doing so honors who we really are. At the close of each session I teach, I finish with the words "May we know, speak and live our truth". And when we know what these truths are, they become who and what we wish to project into the world. It's that quiet voice that drives us to getting more comfortable sitting in our seat of discomfort, that place where we're willing to risk being judged because if we don't...we know that our own growth stagnates.

So this week step up to something that scares you, whether it's a person, a new beginning or an ending. Stand tall in the frame of your body and take a deep breath. Then, step forward into the space where you're uncertain as to how you'll land. Your soul will thank you!

Time To Blossom

Over the past month, I have made many forays into my local environs hiking the local trails close to Palm Springs. It has simply been irresistible as I have been hearing the sweet voice of Mother Nature calling to me-come out and explore!

Our desert is in full bloom due to the above average rainfall this past winter and above average temperatures these past couple of weeks. It's as though the dormancy of winter has been shaken awake. We have lived in the desert for over 17 years now and I have never seen our mountains look so green or with such an array of wildflowers and grasses showing their full color. This has all happened because the conditions have been just right. We have been in drought the past five years and only Mother Nature knows when the next time will be that we are able to enjoy such vibrancy.

Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere have just passed the first day that marks our transition from winter to spring-the vernal equinox. The hours of darkness and light are about the same length and we will begin to see more daylight hours as we mosey up to the summer solstice three months from now. This time of year is ripe for some reflection, for looking at the quality of balance in our lives and see what may be blossoming for us. We know that the desert bloom has happened not just because we had rain and warm sunlight, but because of the seeds and buds that were awaiting such a perfect storm of conditions to show their full display of beauty. If the seeds hadn't been in the soil in the first place, then no matter how much it rained or shined no blooms would have appeared.

The same is true for us. Spring blossoms because what has been planted in the previous few months. We can reflect three months back to the winter solstice and see what we put in the soil to hibernate over the winter months. What is blossoming for you at the moment? Was it something that you toiled into your inner landscape and now have ripe conditions to see it to manifestation? This is my thought of the week...what have you been digging into your own soil that you would like to bring into bloom? 

Try this visualization. Close your eyes and enjoy a couple of relaxing breaths. Imagine a dear friend sitting opposite you, one that you talk openly and honestly with. They ask you the following question, "What is it that you are wanting to have in your life?". Notice what arises. Perhaps it's bringing more peace, ease, quiet time or calm to everyday things. Perhaps it's letting go of what you no longer need. See if you can notice what is present without needing to judge or change whatever bubbled up.

Now, what are doing to plant these seeds into your life?

One way of creating a rich soil for what we wish to manifest is to have daily practices, things we do, no matter how big or small, that till our own inner garden where it can be nourished. Each time you step onto your yoga mat, sit in meditation, offer loving kindness to yourself or others, connect to gratitude, appreciate the earth or serve others you are nourishing your inner garden. It may take longer than we anticipate for the conditions of our own life to be just right for what we've planted to manifest.

It's not like I've held a lifelong dream of owning my own yoga studio so when the opportunity arose it seemed like perfect timing. This was the case because I had spent years steadily doing work that not only supported others on their path of living a balanced and insightful life but connecting to my own inner life on a daily basis. The sense of living from intention, every day, is what creates a nourishing environment to bring to life what we most desire.

As we step into spring here in the Northern Hemisphere and move into fall in the Southern Hemisphere take a few moments to be still and honor the steady process of our own growth. Check in with yourself to see if something is ready to come more fully into your life and start working with it through having the intention to do so.

It is time to blossom and I thank the natural cycle of nature for the stunning reminder.

Inner Power

So did you feel it? This past Sunday we had a full moon that fell in the earthly sign of Virgo. It was a powerful reminder of strength and inner power. As Tanaaz (Forever Conscious, Intuitive Astrology) said,

"It is time to enter into warrior mode. Gone are the days of feeling sorry for yourself or being the victim. Gone are the days of getting irritated by every challenge or setback that life has brought you so far. Gone are the days of resisting what the Universe is trying to show you. This is about finding that inner strength so you can heal, repair, nourish and reflect in whatever way you need to...Trust your instincts and see what arises for you, because chances are this Virgo Full Moon will show you the way and will show you where healing is required..."

When I read this I just said, "YES" and it got me to thinking about how we foster and connect to our own inner power. In our culture people are quite aware of physically working out. Whether or not they actually do it is another question, but people know that being in our physical body is generally a good thing. Over the many years of personal training I had this experience several times where the client would be either on the elliptical trainer or treadmill in a steady state of regular breathing with their heart rate elevated. They would turn to me and almost whisper, "I've never told anyone this before but...". And it didn't just happen a couple of times but frequently. I began to think more deeply about how our body is the gateway to opening up our emotional and mental channels. People would start working out and untapped issues would rise to the surface. In times of challenge, people will often avoid the difficulty by escaping to the gym or their yoga mat. By turning to the physical effort, we feel as though we can bypass the sticky moment and hope it goes away yet we know that it won't, as avoidance doesn't lead to resolution.

The next piece to this thought is that this is where people would then stay in the physical body. My thought for the week isn't about working out but about working in. Our body is one way in which we can tap into what our soul's conversation is. Our breath finds rhythm, we release endorphins and relax just enough for the curtain to be drawn back to reveal something deeper and perhaps unconscious. Our yoga practice, as well as other forms of movement, gives us the invitation to explore our inner landscape. And sometimes what is revealed challenges us and sometimes we turn it off and move back to just working out. But if we have a safe and sacred place, we can allow whatever arises to be there and perhaps begin to shift what needs to change. As Judith Hanson Lasater (A Year of Living Your Yoga) says:

"...it is in the difficulties that we grow. You don't need to like the difficulties that life sends you, but remember that they too are part of the sacred path of evolution." 

An appropriate meme that I came across this week just about sums it up:

So as you step into your practice this week allow for the rising of a deeper consciousness. We can support this connection to our inner power, building our inner strength by tapping into the third (Manipura) chakra, the seat of our self-esteem, self-will and confidence. We build our inner strength every time we chant its bija mantra of RAM, sung or spoken with the mouth wide open and allowing the lips to hum the "m" sound to the end of our breath. We stand strongly in our posture as we vibrate this energetic center. Fully trust the gut feeling that arises when you need to make a decision or to stand up for what you believe.

A final thought on inner power is the understanding that our outer strength and power will shift as we age. A point will arise where we have passed our strongest physical selves, even if we have a lifelong commitment to working out. However, that doesn't need to be true for our inner strength as it has the potential to continue to expand until our last breath. As we know our time in this body is limited and it shall change and eventually disappear, yet our inner power will always be the light we carry within.

Let your light shine...work in.

Enough

Say this word silently to yourself, "enough". Pause.  Listen to what arises in you when saying this word.

I've been asking my students to try this in class this past week. I say the word "enough" and we sit. I then ask what popped up? It's been an interesting discovery of how just one word can trigger quite different responses. Here's a summary of what people shared:

I am not enough.

I am enough.

Enough! With a "stop" hand gesture.

Enough technology, news and screen time.

Enough news about politics.

I have enough, I am content.

Enough out-of-town visitors!

Enough joy.

Enough negative talk!

It seemed to swing between a feeling of recognizing abundance to a state of not having or being enough. When this theme came to me it was more from the perspective of lacking and from self-doubt. Like an invisible curtain that stops us from doing something that might be on the periphery of consciousness. I'd love to do this but I don't have enough ________ (time, money, resources, knowledge, skills etc). And often when we feel as though something is lacking, we begin to look outside of ourselves for answers. We may find ourselves stockpiling material goods, taking numerous self-help courses, or holding onto relationships that no longer bring us joy. In Buddhism, a basic tenet is that our attachments will bring us suffering. As Imam Ali said, "Detachment from worldly desires is not that you should own nothing, but that nothing should own you."

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the final Yama on the eight-faceted path is Aparigraha, often translated as non-grasping, non-possessiveness or non-attachment. Similar to Buddhist thought, when we cling to things, material or otherwise, we halt our own connection to the deeper meaning of our lives. So part of the process is recognizing of what we can let go, whether it be a thought, an action or connection to something else.

An interesting intersection happened this week with the occurrence of the International Day of Women. It got me thinking about strong and determined women that I have had in my life and one, in particular, stood out. I met her in 2013 in New Delhi, India on the Bare Witness Tour as part of the Global Seva Challenge for Off the Mat, Into the World. Ruchira Gupta, a social worker, founded an organization that not only was rescuing girls from being trafficked but was working on creating legislation on a national/political level to alter the punishment for those who trafficked women and girls. This woman personified fierce compassion in action. It was as though she said, "Enough! Enough violence against women and girls" and upon that recognition took action to actually do something to radically shift it.

My thought of the week is to recognize how we responded to the word "enough", to witness what rose up within us and then to ask the question, "What can I do with this?". So if the feeling of having abundance in your life arose, then perhaps the next thing is the practice of gratitude. If feeling as though you're not enough was present, then working on an affirming statement such as "I am enough" is the next supportive step. If you've had enough TV, news, politics, internet or social media, it would make sense to give yourself a time-out from technology. Sometimes this process is a recognition of what's happening and letting go-remembering that who you are and what you have is enough.

I know that this is personal journey. What is enough for me may not be enough for the next person, yet it's the recognition of what that is for you that matters. Since opening my own yoga studio I have been drawn to listening more to podcasts around minimalism and slow living. It's as though I'm reminding myself that abundance will flow into the studio in so many ways if I have gratitude for all that does come my way. 

I've gotten better at saying this to myself, as in the past my "thing" was I felt I didn't know enough. It took many years to finally rest in a place where I can say "I know enough" and use my continued studying as a way to simply deepen that well of knowledge. And for that, I am deeply thankful every day.

I am enough, I have enough and I know enough. Now I can let go of needing things to be different. And as my teacher, Judith Hanson Lasater said, "We can remember that we were actually whole in the first place." 

Transitions

A snowbird friend of mine recently had to return home from a shorter than usual season here in the desert. I asked her how their season was and she replied, "It felt short. It's the transitions that kill me!". The statement really stuck to me as how changing locations can hold so many challenges -- routines needing to be re-established, connections to your favorite services like your hairdresser, dentist and yoga studio! As I thought about this further I realized that we are always in some state of transition, although some may not be as large as others.

Think about what you were doing just before reading this. Could you replay the last 10-minutes in detail? How did you transition from where you were to where you are at the present moment? Did you notice or were you projecting ahead to what was next? To paraphrase the Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh-'When we are focused on a goal that sitting is front of us, we can miss the appointment with our own life'. It's as though we look toward the future and lose our connection to the richness of the present moment and the experience we're having within it.

Think about your breath for a moment. It has been in transition since the very first one you took and is never the same breath. We go our entire lives, breath after breath, aware or not that the breath we are breathing in this moment is unique unto itself. As I breath in air molecules, they will have been touched by other beings on this planet. When the air enters my body, it is now touched with my own unique "body-print" before being released, in a different form, back into the world. Our breath is not only always in transition, but is the one thing that is always in the present moment. When we slow down and become conscious of it, we begin to awaken to a subtle wisdom that is lies deep within us.

The first time I saw Deepak Chopra speak was in the early 90's in Melbourne, Australia. He was talking about quantum physics and suggesting that we try to find the gap between our thoughts. I thought to myself, "We have gaps between our thoughts??" as I certainly didn't believe that I had gaps but just one thought abutting the next. He went on to say that within the gap is where we tap into profound insight. Okay...he had me hooked. I was curious to know more and was probably the first time that I started to see if I could find any space between my endless choo-choo train of mind chatter. This is one of the moments that led me to want to learn more about meditation as that seemed like the space in which to explore the questions that arose. I wanted insight...I had to do something and this seemed like a great idea!

For any of us who've sat on a meditation cushion, we know that the process is anything but easy. It sounds simple enough-- sit down, follow your breath and when your thoughts distract you and you notice the distraction, simply bring your awareness back to the breath. It takes consistent practice to begin to truly get a sense of what this process reveals as we are constantly jumping out of the present moment. But if you're like me and curious enough to explore a deeper connection and gain inner wisdom, then sitting on a meditation cushion or stepping onto a yoga mat is a great place to hone our skills. 

This past week in classes the focus has been to try to stay connected to how we move between the poses, rather than focusing on being in a pose. And if the pose is held, then the focus shifts to the ever-transitioning breath. It has invited all of us to slow down, to truly taste the experience that we are having. And it's challenging because a part of our habituated mind asks us to go at the speed that is familiar, so we can enter this tug-of-war between unveiling something new and being enticed to hang out with what we know. On another level, the slowing down connects us in a different way to our practice, revealing what it can feel like to be radically awake in whatever we are undertaking.

My thought of the week is to slow down, explore the physical sensations of the breath and to deeply embody the moment. You can practice this as you complete the reading of this blog by noticing what it is that you do next...and really pay attention to how it feels as you do it. Transitions...the sweetness that you'll taste if you allow yourself the time to do so!