Yoga in Action

I came across of a note I have written early this year in my journal. These are simple lessons I learned in India. Given the milieu there, this i realize...

I will always be yoga in action.

Meditate on how you would like to make a difference today..........

In a simplest manner maybe do a friendly gesture to a stranger.

Pick up a certain chore at home even if you feel that it is not for you to do.

When you see litter around, try not to wait for someone to do it for you, instead, do it yourself.

Spend time talking with an elder being and you will find out how much a conversation means to them.

If you have left over food at home find someone who can eat it.

Don't prepare too much food that would only go to waste.

Clean your surroundings.

Be sensitive to the feelings of others. Ask them how they feel today.

Recycle.

Conserve energy and water

Make time to play with children or buy them ice cream or little stuff that they like. (to my opinion, all children likes ice cream) They would only be little once.

And the list goes on and on.

YOGA is not just all about asanas. Asana (Postures) is just the 3rd part among the 8 limbs. Close your eyes and find what is real in you. Yoga in its simplest form is self realisation. Yoga in action... reach out... do something... be a part of the whole and others... this is reality.... see and be aware. Little by little you will find your ego dissolves and its essence being shared to a higher purpose.

Missing my teacher

It was a rainy, gloomy, and cold day in Mysore. I woke up 6:00AM for my last practice at the Shala as well as to say my goodbyes to good friends and ofcourse my teacher...

It wasn't the most comfortable feeling that morning as I hurried to finish my practice and simply just stayed in the lounge room sipping my morning chai. Trying to cozy myself up, feeling the cold weather and the heaviness in my heart that I'll be leaving Mysore for my flight back to Manila in the afternoon. I hardly wasn't talking to anyone keeping the sweetness of leaving lock inside. Then finally everyone was finish with their practice, and I was called by my teacher to go inside. That moment, even his eyes, was incomparably different from the first time we met. I don't know if it was the friendship... the knowledge that he has imparted...maybe the conversations...or the care that he showed when I physically hit my face on the wall.... or the 2 month long training that I endured under his supervision. Maybe it was everything. :)

He handed my my training certificate and shook my hand for a job well done... but I know it was more than that. The certificate is nothing compared to the life I have experience and the many things that I learned when I was in Mysore. I was like a bird... flying with great wings. My teacher made me feel that and somehow I know that wouldn't be the last time I'd be seeing him. He gave me a hug... a very comforting one... and I burst into tears. I couldn't pin point out of the many reason why I have to cry that time but one thing persist to manifest and that is the connection that we shared given the short amount of time I stayed there. Physically, I was bruised and battered due to my hamstring injury but the soul was ever beating in gratitude.

Namaste guru Ajay Kumar

Above is my training certificate trying to smile with sad looking eyes. :)

Perfect World

Mythological Background on Utthita Pashvakonasana (Side Angle Posture)

Lord Subramaniam, second son of Lord Shiva, also known as Skanda the fierce lord of war, once went to visit Lord Shiva and complained that the current world, which was created by Lord Brahma, was imperfect - full of corruption, crime, and injustice. Shiva suggested that he create a better world. Subramaniam then defeated and incarcerated Brahma, and destroyed his world. Then he created his own, better world.

After some time Lord Shiva visited Subramaniam and looked at his perfect world. In it nothing moved or lived or changed, as everything was arrested, frozen in the static state of perfection. There were not even sentient beings, as their essential nature is to strive for perfection and, if perfection is reached, life has come to an end. Liberated beings are not reborn, The Buddha, after reaching Mahaparinirvana, never came back. That is why bodhisattvas avoid perfection: they are thus able to continue to serve others. According to Indian thought, the state of perfection exists only as consciousness, called purusha or atman, which is the seat of awareness. What changes is the transitory world of manifestation, which include body, mind, egoity, and all objects made up of gross elements and subtle elementary particles.

Shiva pointed out to Subramaniam that this world was not a world at all, but only a frozen image of perfection. The purpose of a manifest world is to supply beings with the right cocktail of pleasure and pain, which eventually leads to self-knowledge. For this purpose it has to be in constant flux, and hence imperfect. Seeing the flaw in his world, Subramaniam freed Brahma to reinstall his old, imperfect world.

advice to those who are new to yoga

Yoga, on it's most common term is said to be "yoking"-meeting of the mind, body, and spirit. Easy to say but very hard to understand most especially for those who have just started their journey to yoga. In a probability of 10 people, I suppose only 2 or 3 would only get to grasp its real meaning after their first practice, as yoga will always be viewed individually. With this I am not kidding. However, through the guidance of a teacher or a spiritual master, all rivers eventually leads to the ocean. We just have to keep an open mind yet we must also try to have doubts as doubt is a sign of true intelligence and learning. Yoga is always an inner and personal experience, a self realisation, that can never be compared to others just like each and every one of us is said to be unique.

When it comes to first time practice, it is just but normal if you seem to struggle reaching for your toes or finding a hard time to get your balance or can't seem to do some of the asanas well. Don't be disheartened as all of this is a process towards getting better. Be easy on yourself and try to bring awareness to your body. Have a little curiosity on how things are really should be done. Books, internet, yoga articles, teacher/student conversation will add a flame to those who wanted to be a devout yogi/yogini.

When you come to the yoga room, leave all your thoughts, worries, and concerns outside the door together where you left your shoes. Allot this one and a half hour practice for yourself. This is a privilege. When you come up after Shavasana (jargon for corpse pose as well as a final relaxation) you come out new and vibrant. Why? Because this posture prepares us for death. It teaches us to completely surrender and let go. If we get to let go of the body, the personality, and the ego, that's the only time we can come out new. New on it's very essence gives us life.

What is right?

I was watching a local channel on TV last night and they showed a clip from the upcoming movie of Richard Gutierez and Claudine Barreto. The later, while talking to her father, said, "Gagawin ko kung ano ang tama." And I was thinking...huh, ano ba ang tama? Does it follow that when you do something that suits the majority of how people should act and respond, you seem to be on the side of what is right?

Personally I think, this is what's wrong with society. We are always given a set of norms to follow, rules to abide, do this do that kind of situations, as early as we start to perceive things in this world. We are deprive of our innate freedom to be our true self so we drown in a conditioned existence. Let's start from our parents who's beliefs are also inherited and conditioned that is being passed on to us. The church who preach out religion and bible but never on experience. Our government who puts on laws to incorporate order yet it's the same laws that gives biases, judgement and prejudices among people. And you tell me, you do what is right?

Remember, people have their own perception and way of viewing situations/matters around them. What might be right to one may not be the same for the other. Different backgrounds, individuality and experience. For some they may even base it on religion, ethics, psychology and morality. Then again, how can you say you follow what is right?

When I ponder on this statement, somehow, it boggles me why some people seem not to choose their words wisely. I, on the other hand is just expressing my sentiments.

tid bits

I started my journey in yoga 6 years ago when a good friend invited me to attend a Bikram class in Dasmarinas. I instantly fell in love with the physical and spiritual aspect yoga brings to an individual. My first practice was a surprise realisation, that I indeed can last a whole long series physically and felt blissful and at peace with myself afterwards. That sweet silence transcended into meditation and the whole art of letting go. Though my practice weren't consistent due to my work schedule, I make sure that I resort to some self help books to widen my understanding with yoga and spirituality.

Four years back, my attendance slowly kept at a regular pace this time doing Ashtanga Vinyasa. What I like about this kind of yoga is that you can practice at home, doing asanas at your own pace. By and by I can see and feel improvement is on it's way. The ailments that I used to have is gone and everything seem to be normal with my body. (internally) I now have regular menstruation that followed balanced hormones. (less PMS!) Bowel movement is regular, injury pain is gone.. so and so. As much as I get a lot of physical benefits, much MORE it benefits me internally that I hope most of you can experience.

I took yoga on a more serious level late 2008 when I decided to give up my Travel Agency business to just focus on practising. Crazy but rewarding. :) Early this year (2010) I book myself for a 2 month long journey in India to deepen my life through yoga. I must say I was transformed and Mysore was the culprit. (hehe) I have been grateful since then.

The journey is yet to end as each day seem to be just a beginning. I live by the moment and I make death as an ally to live more meaningfully each day.

Love, Light, & Peace

My Website

http://sites.google.com/site/pollyvasquez8limbs/