The greatest yoga teacher, B.K.S. Iyengar once wrote: "Most people ask only from their body that it does not trouble them. Most people feel that they are healthy if they are not suffering from illness and pain, not aware of the imbalances that exist in their bodies and minds that ultimately will lead to disease. Yoga has a threefold impact on health. It keeps healthy people healthy, it inhibits the development of diseases, and it aids recovery from ill health". He continues "Health begins with firmness in the body, deepens to emotional stability, then leads to intellectual clarity, wisdom, and finally the unveiling of the soul".
What does Iyengar want to teach us with this lesson from his book "Light on Life"? My reflection is that in times of crisis, or in times of pure joy, Yoga is the path for our health and well-being. Yes, YOGA. Ancient art, science and philosophy. From my own experience, especially in the past 5-10 years of life when my awareness became more vivid and my consciousness evoked, alignment and enlightenment came from YOGA, the purest source of health. Enlightenment means joy, light, happiness. Yes, yoga and meditation bring me that; not a pill, not a material item, not success, not money, But my own sense of self, pure, nude, and raw. As nature created me.
How can we see nature, the ones that are within us? A good exercise for it? Look at yourself in the morning, as the first step you take when you get out of your bed. Take your clothes off, hair messy, and look at your bathroom mirror. Look again, straight in your eyes, stare at your face and hair, at your skin, at your eyes, then move down to your body. Look, stare, feel. Some movements? Start with your arms and your legs, move them gently in circles. Then your head and neck. Then your hands and feet. Then your spine. Wow... the best for last: the spine. Does your spine move?
You will understand nature, but more than that, you will see your own nature. What do you see? That's a question for you to answer to yourself.
My message here is to share the importance of recognizing our own nature that the body holds and how the mind operates the changes. According to Iyengar, "the body will prove to be an obstacle unless we transcend its limitations and remove its compulsions. Hence, we have to learn how to explore beyond our known frontiers, that is to expand and interpenetrate our awareness and how to master ourselves. ASANA is ideal for this".
How do I practice this? Before I start my day, at 6:00am, after I practice my mirror exercise, I am on my mat aligning my body and mind. Every night is different; every day is different. I perform each asana, I come to understand the true nature of my own body for that day and time, and as I focus on my physical practice, I align those layers to my mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual layers; cleaning any disturbances or distractions, opening the day with more stability in my system. Our health starts in our mind. The body is a response, an extension or even a reflection of how the mind has been operating through the central nervous system, which is our main conductor and the system stabilizer. If the mind is rigid, stuck, compressed and stagnate, the body will respond with accumulation of tension, toxins, and inflammation. What is rigid, is insensitivity whether it be in the physical sense or the mental.
Alignment and enlightenment through asanas bring us purity, clarity, and sensitivity. This allows us to be in tune with the inner and outer world around us.
This is integration, unity and balance. The awareness of the body and the intelligence of the brain and heart should be in harmony. The brain instructs the body to do a posture, but the heart has to feel it.
Energy, vitality, more from life.
Practice with the intention of being present, of changing, of transforming. Changes occur when consistency is present.
To an incredible new season of Fall and Winter - I am willing to keep you, my dear members, inspired to continue this journey with me, wherever I go. Regardless, we will remain LOVERS.
Namaste,
Christina
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