What should be our frame of mind while performing any asana?
Our goal to be teachers might hinder us from our path and can be potentially harmful. We believe that as teachers we are expected to do certain asanas perfectly. So we push ourselves using our will power and violation even if the body is not ready. This can be damaging in the long term.
Even students who do not plan to be teachers, but use a lot of mental strength and will power in asana practise find themselves in trouble as time goes by.
Hence change in the frame of mind and understanding the purpose of the asana we are doing is critical. Intent should be clear. Also notions like we should be compassionate, tolerant and seek for perfect asana are conditions we have put on ourselves. There is no condition to Yog. If we practise asanas because of conditioning, we invite the 6 enemies of mankind – kama, krodha, lobha, moha, matsyara, mada. But if we want to walk towards Shatasampatis, our practise has to change.
Sequencing and technicalities are vital but the purpose of our practise is the key. It is the practical approach towards Yog. Without the change in frame of mind our journey might end soon.
What should be the Purpose of our asana practise?
Our purpose of practise can’t be to satisfy the ‘I” within us. Then our asanas and the ego become interdependent. Then a good asana practise makes the ego feel good. We then start competing with ourselves. We use asanas to challenge ourselves to look good for the world.
But asana practise is something very personal and not for the world to notice. We cannot always think about the benefits we get in a Pindasana. Then we lose the whole asana and the demonstrative mode we live in becomes toxic.
Understand what is happening to the person within you and try to reach the stage of momentary detachment and then you wouldn’t want to show off to the world what you have gained. An asana then becomes a mere vehicle to reach somewhere deeper.
Remember,all that is not is yog. Everything we do not know about yog and everything we feel is not yog is in fact, yog.
During the 9 days of navratri the cosmic energy is very powerful. so if through asana practise you have the gravity you will get a glimpse of it. practise and be with it and see if you can surface something prominent.
– By Rajeshree
