The Eight Limbs of Yoga
I can't believe that I am moving. I thought the day would never come. Living away from my husband for almost two years, waiting for the day when he would call me and tell me that he is ready for my son and I to come join him, made the day he called feel like a dream.
I have had to do a lot of preparing to make this move to California, emotionally and physically. I have had to let a lot of things go. There are no regrets here, just observances (though I can't say it has been easy). However the tapas, heat, that I have had to face has melted and rounded my edges. Sleeping on the floor on a very cushy palate and chilling on my meditation mats because all of my furniture is sold has been for the better. Scaling down has shown me that we really don't need that much.
The other day I asked my friend which forks I should keep, and then I knew I'd lost it. I had surrendered to God, Isvara pranidhana. With nothing to lose, there is everything to gain. Yoga teaches us this.
What we really need more than anything is not things! We need loving relationships, with God, ourselves and with others. The things only fill the space where these more important aspects of life are remiss.
This is yoga, shedding the exterior hindrances to see what is inside and what really matters, without. The eight limbs of yoga, or ashtanga, speak directly to this fact. Though our practice takes many forms, the truth of yoga is not alone in the poses, asana, on our mat or chair. It is our work to dive into the Self so as to be able and available to share this space with others, not things, Svadhyaya.
I've always liked having things, but now that my world is being reduced, I see the bigness in the space. No, I do not have a couch to sit on, but I've got love to rest my head upon, and that is more than enough.
I have had to do a lot of preparing to make this move to California, emotionally and physically. I have had to let a lot of things go. There are no regrets here, just observances (though I can't say it has been easy). However the tapas, heat, that I have had to face has melted and rounded my edges. Sleeping on the floor on a very cushy palate and chilling on my meditation mats because all of my furniture is sold has been for the better. Scaling down has shown me that we really don't need that much.The other day I asked my friend which forks I should keep, and then I knew I'd lost it. I had surrendered to God, Isvara pranidhana. With nothing to lose, there is everything to gain. Yoga teaches us this.
What we really need more than anything is not things! We need loving relationships, with God, ourselves and with others. The things only fill the space where these more important aspects of life are remiss.
This is yoga, shedding the exterior hindrances to see what is inside and what really matters, without. The eight limbs of yoga, or ashtanga, speak directly to this fact. Though our practice takes many forms, the truth of yoga is not alone in the poses, asana, on our mat or chair. It is our work to dive into the Self so as to be able and available to share this space with others, not things, Svadhyaya.
I've always liked having things, but now that my world is being reduced, I see the bigness in the space. No, I do not have a couch to sit on, but I've got love to rest my head upon, and that is more than enough.
