What is your state of mind?

Patanjali distinguishes between citta (consciousness) and manas (mind). The mind can do various things, turning our consciousness to different states. Sometimes we think of the past. Sometimes we imagine a future. Sometimes we understand what is right in front of us. Sometimes we misunderstand what is right in front of us. Finally, sometimes we dream as we sleep.

If these are the five ways the consciousness can turn, that's pretty simple to keep track of, right? At any given time, we can pause and ask ourselves what we are doing. Past? Imagining? Understanding? Misunderstanding?

Once having identified what the mind is up to, we can choose whether we want to be using it in that way. Certainly the first three can be useful when needed. We need to remember the past to learn from our mistakes. We need to imagine futures so we can prepare creatively. And, we need to understand situations so that we can react appropriately.

As with so many of Patanjali's teachings, our time on the mat can be a chance to practice. Then, we are more likely to be aware during the other parts of our day.

Can you name these yoga poses?

upper left: Is that a Christmas tree, or a person sitting in meditation?
upper right: Is that a person in shavaasana, or simply a taadaasana turned sideways?
lower left: Is that downward dog? Or naavaasana upside down?
lower right: Clearly, this person is grinning wildly at their ability to do tree pose!

During the coming year, may we all enjoy a lot of creative playfulness!

Nudging into Alignment

A student is in downward dog. My hands nudge their hips a little higher, lifting up away from spine and shoulders. I watch her spine lengthen. I hear her say, "Ahh!" At some point I can feel the lift reach its maximum. The potential movement is complete...for today.

When I was trained as a yoga teacher, we were taught to feel how hard and how gently to touch a student. Our hands must listen, even as we touch. And, our touch must always be toward the goal of alignment. If I try to move a student to look a certain way in a pose, but am not watching their foundation and alignment, I risk doing harm.

So it is on the spiritual journey. I can remember times in my life when mentors and spiritual directors nudged me. They nudged me only as far as a I was ready to stretch in that situation. I imagine that they were not seeking for me to act a certain way, but for me to act in alignment with God's movement in my life. I imagine that they were watching, listening, feeling my response, and decided when to stop nudging. If they had tried to force my spirit, that would have been in vain, and perhaps harmful.

May all of us cultivate sensitivity to energy and to spirit so that we can choose wisely how far to nudge ourselves and each other---always in alignment with energy and spirit.

Adapting to Your Mental State

I have long been an advocate of adapting each pose to each student, each day. Further, over time, I've learned how to adapt breathing exercises, also. But, this week, for the first time, it occurred to me that the mental focus must be adapted to each student.

But how can a teacher do that in a room full of students? The workings of the mind, the regulation of the nervous system is not easily visible to the teacher, despite some clues.

In Sutra II.50, Patanjali explains that the breath cycles can be counted. This helps one develop a sensitive self awareness and focus one's mind.

So, now I plan on teaching my students not only how to adapt the poses to their physical level of ability for each day and each stage of life---but also how to adapt for the times that they need more tools for mental focus.

Next time you are in triangle pose and find yourself getting bored, try counting five breaths of equal length of inhale and exhale. If that tool of mental focus works for you, keep on applying it and adapting it whenever you find your mind wandering.

Season of Rest

The autumn leaves cover the forest floor, giving it bedding for the winter. This reminds us of the importance of rest.

Yoga also reminds us to rest. If you live in a four-season climate, this is a great time of year to make sure you do some restorative poses each week. (For you blog readers who belong to ACAC---there's a restorative class!). In the restorative poses, our bodies are laid carefully into a position which is healthy for the spine, lungs, and nervous system. The body has plenty support through yoga props.

Although we often think of "yoga" as doing poses, it is also about getting enough sleep. This is a great time of year to let ourselves hibernate a little. This allows time for the immune system to build itself and then we are less likely to get winter illnesses.

And don't forget that every exhale is a rest. So, whether you are taking a break from your computer, or in shavasana, let your exhale have all the time it needs.

Framing the Spiritual Journey

"Spiritual director" is a term for someone who companions someone else on their exploration of how the divine is moving in their lives. Most commonly known in the Catholic monastic tradition, monks and nuns who spent a lot of time in meditation and prayer would check in with a superior to guide them on the path. Also a universal phenomenon, most religions and cultures have a way of making space for spiritual seekers to have conversation and receive insight from someone else about how they are using ritual and making choices.

At this point in my life, I feel called to offer spiritual direction and to teach yoga. The two have common ground in Sutra II.1. Tapah Svaadyhaya Isvarapranidhana Kriya Yoga. This means that we follow a discipline, we practice self-reflection, and we acknowledge a divinity.

Certainly, it is clear in the U.S. today, from stereotypical yoga, that the postures take discipline and practice. And one pretty soon finds out that self-awareness is helpful and surfaces whether one is seeking it or not. Emphasizing faith in the divine is not common in all yoga classes today, and yet many teachers creatively slip it in, especially as Anusara teachers remind us: "Open to Grace!"

In a parallel way, a healthy prayer life has the discipline of a regular practice. This might mean attending Taize services, walking the Labyrinth, or doing daily private scripture reading. Also, a healthy prayer life includes space for self-reflection: we allow humbling insights to show us our patterns and convert us to new ones. Finally, a healthy prayer life means we surrender to a higher power and acknowledge that we are not the master of all things.

On Saturday night at 8 pm, I joined the "Coming of Age" teens at the Unitarian Universalist church during their overnight "lock-in", and offered them an experience of yoga and discussion of spiritual practice. I used Kriya yoga to frame the discussion, because I believe those three elements are present no matter what path a person chooses.

So, I wish for each of us, whether we call ourselves yogis or not, to know the richness of Kriya Yoga: that we make time for a discipline that purifies our body and mind, that we attune to our inner workings, and that we take faith in that which is greater than we are.

In coming days and weeks I hope to add more reflections here about tapas, svadhyaya, and Isvarapranidhana and how each of them shows up in the postures and in our lives, and the Sanskrit etymology.

Monday evening classes at TJMC UU

I am so excited to be teaching a class which blends philosophy, discussion, asana, breathing, and meditation. After teaching at studios and fitness centers for many years, I have found that the church is a perfect place to offer a class blending the ancient sacred theory with the modern perception of yoga postures.

All are welcome to come to Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, Unitarian Universalist on Monday evenings, 5:30 - 7 pm through November 23. $10 donation requested. Each week we will take up a new set of sutras. Bring along a towel or mat, and a journal. This class is open to any member of the Charlottesville community---TJMC is a welcoming congregation affirming many paths to the Divine.

After the holidays, we will begin again in February, continuing through April. Mark your calendars for Monday evenings as winter turns into spring. Please register with the church office so that we'll have your contact info in case of weather or other class changes.