Yoga supported me this week. The instructors openly shared personal stories and profound philosophies that nurtured my heart. They helped me deal with some unforeseen, challenging situations affecting my kids in a way that as a parent I wish I could diffuse the hurt. Fortunately kids bounce...us adults, not so much...we get stuck.
This is where my wise yoga instructor, Ali, shared powerful words. Ali opened class describing the "polarities" that exist in life and how the function of yoga is to teach us to reduce these extreme polarities or forces that exist in each of us. The powerful force of "attachment," versus the powerful force of "fear." With attachments lie the root of many of our problems, our internal imprisonment. It is not just attachment to material objects and people that lead to suffering, it is the attachment to name, image, reputation, beliefs, ideas, etc. that further complicate the situation. Attachment could be considered desire; fear could also be considered repulsion or aversion. When we attach so strongly to a thought, a belief, a relationship that it results in overwhelming needy, clingy behavior that in order to be happy, to be satisfied: (fill in the blank) I must have this job; belong to this sorority; play on this team; live in this house; wear these clothes; own this car, appliance, countertop; have this, have that, have her, have him...we get stuck. Thoughts, even though they are designed to freely come and go like clouds, become sticky when we attach to them. We become stuck in our thoughts as to the perceived value of things, persons, experiences to the point they rule our lives.
At the other extreme, rather than living a needy, clingy attached existence we could live in fear and repulsion. I never want to experience failure, therefore I will not try. Because I fear what people might think I won't live boldly, socialize, honor my true nature. We create in our minds strong aversions to circumstances, relationships, activities. We criticize, dismiss, insult, and critique to further confirm our fear. Our constant desire for pleasure and aversion to fear and pain builds in us thoughts soaked in emotion. More thoughts, whether thoughts of attachment or thoughts of repulsion, become stuck at the ends of these polarities.
So the quest of yoga is to resolve these extremes. To live in the place regarded as the Neutral Mind. The Neutral Mind, encourages us to maintain equanimity and composure when faced with the fluctuations of life, treating the polarities of attachment and fear equally, favoring neither one nor the other. It's not to say that you won't feel tremendous sadness at the loss of a pet or be blind-sided by a job loss, but through the practice of mindfulness, we resolve this overwhelming attachment or this overwhelming aversion with technical practice. This technique, that draws the polarities of our emotions toward a calm center, is called LOVE. LOVE diminishes attachment....LOVE diminishes fear. Practicing yoga is an act of practicing love, for ourselves and for others. Be willing to connect to the silence, to the quiet, be willing to trust that your nature is not one of extreme attachment or extreme fear, but with love finds itself balancing with ease.
Yes, we are human and we feel strong emotions but being able to recover and return to that place of LOVE smoothly releases you of anger, fear, obsession. Let your thoughts come and go, without stickiness, flowing like a river, floating like a cloud. We can practice living in the middle of these polarities in a place of love. It is this place we find our strength, our faith, our hope.
Fortunately for my kids they don't need to hear a deep-seeded yogi explanation on recovering from loss, sadness, fear, disappointment. (I had to write it all out to feel better while Ron handled it like a man and an incredible dad.) The kids practiced love all day playing with friends who care about them. Any sadness was replaced by mini-golf, trampolines, basketball and kind parents. Kids recover, adapt, rarely stay stuck. Thank you to those who wisely nurture them.
I will share tomorrow my second yogi instructor inspiration, from Laura, who came to class today looking like she had been in a brawl; a black eye, ace-wrapped leg and limp. No worries, she is fine, it was just all part of her vacation.
Until then know you are loved.
Thank you for reading.
(Reference: Silent Mind Meditation Program)
This is where my wise yoga instructor, Ali, shared powerful words. Ali opened class describing the "polarities" that exist in life and how the function of yoga is to teach us to reduce these extreme polarities or forces that exist in each of us. The powerful force of "attachment," versus the powerful force of "fear." With attachments lie the root of many of our problems, our internal imprisonment. It is not just attachment to material objects and people that lead to suffering, it is the attachment to name, image, reputation, beliefs, ideas, etc. that further complicate the situation. Attachment could be considered desire; fear could also be considered repulsion or aversion. When we attach so strongly to a thought, a belief, a relationship that it results in overwhelming needy, clingy behavior that in order to be happy, to be satisfied: (fill in the blank) I must have this job; belong to this sorority; play on this team; live in this house; wear these clothes; own this car, appliance, countertop; have this, have that, have her, have him...we get stuck. Thoughts, even though they are designed to freely come and go like clouds, become sticky when we attach to them. We become stuck in our thoughts as to the perceived value of things, persons, experiences to the point they rule our lives.
At the other extreme, rather than living a needy, clingy attached existence we could live in fear and repulsion. I never want to experience failure, therefore I will not try. Because I fear what people might think I won't live boldly, socialize, honor my true nature. We create in our minds strong aversions to circumstances, relationships, activities. We criticize, dismiss, insult, and critique to further confirm our fear. Our constant desire for pleasure and aversion to fear and pain builds in us thoughts soaked in emotion. More thoughts, whether thoughts of attachment or thoughts of repulsion, become stuck at the ends of these polarities.
So the quest of yoga is to resolve these extremes. To live in the place regarded as the Neutral Mind. The Neutral Mind, encourages us to maintain equanimity and composure when faced with the fluctuations of life, treating the polarities of attachment and fear equally, favoring neither one nor the other. It's not to say that you won't feel tremendous sadness at the loss of a pet or be blind-sided by a job loss, but through the practice of mindfulness, we resolve this overwhelming attachment or this overwhelming aversion with technical practice. This technique, that draws the polarities of our emotions toward a calm center, is called LOVE. LOVE diminishes attachment....LOVE diminishes fear. Practicing yoga is an act of practicing love, for ourselves and for others. Be willing to connect to the silence, to the quiet, be willing to trust that your nature is not one of extreme attachment or extreme fear, but with love finds itself balancing with ease.
Yes, we are human and we feel strong emotions but being able to recover and return to that place of LOVE smoothly releases you of anger, fear, obsession. Let your thoughts come and go, without stickiness, flowing like a river, floating like a cloud. We can practice living in the middle of these polarities in a place of love. It is this place we find our strength, our faith, our hope.
Fortunately for my kids they don't need to hear a deep-seeded yogi explanation on recovering from loss, sadness, fear, disappointment. (I had to write it all out to feel better while Ron handled it like a man and an incredible dad.) The kids practiced love all day playing with friends who care about them. Any sadness was replaced by mini-golf, trampolines, basketball and kind parents. Kids recover, adapt, rarely stay stuck. Thank you to those who wisely nurture them.
I will share tomorrow my second yogi instructor inspiration, from Laura, who came to class today looking like she had been in a brawl; a black eye, ace-wrapped leg and limp. No worries, she is fine, it was just all part of her vacation.
Until then know you are loved.
Thank you for reading.
(Reference: Silent Mind Meditation Program)
http://www.lyricshall.com/lyrics/Laura+Story/Blessings/
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