Yoga from the Heart

 

 

"You must do the asana with your soul.  How can you do an asana with your soul?  We can only do it with the organ of the body that is closest to the soul - the heart.  So a virtuous asana is done from the heart and not from the head.  Then you are not just doing it, but you are in it.  Many people try to think their way into an asana, but you must instead feel your way into it through love and devotion."

 -B.K.S. Iyengar

 

Mr. Iyengar often makes a connection of the body to the heart.  He says in Light on Life that, "Ninety-nine percent of all human communication is emotional, not intellectual." 

So, as Valentine's Day is nearing I thought I would share some of B.K.S. Iyengar's well- known quotes regarding this connection.

 

 

Try doing a few asana, first in a more physical way.  Then repeat and allow the breath to lead the asana and permeate to each cell.  Repeat once more keeping the whole body connection and feel how the heart can guide the pose, feeling a more spiritual connection to yourself and the world around you.

 

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

 

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Pranayama

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Pranayama - Breath Control

 

Geeta writes that the end product of pranayama is mental calm and tranquility of the nervous system.

I like how she puts the body and mind become "tolerant".

 

 

Geeta writes that according to Patanjali the "Practice of breath control leads to a pure mind.  It dissolves the covering that hides the effulgence within.  Such a mind is fit for concentration."  sutra 11.52, 53

 

 

Pranayama is the lengthening of the inhalation and exhalation and the pause between is breath control.  According to the sutras this is to come after gaining mastery of the asana. At this time the breath becomes deeper, more subtle and rhythmic.

 

Geeta writes about the three important functions of  breath control.  They are the exhalation, inhalation and the retention either at the top of the in-breath or at the bottom of the out-breath.

 

 

Recaka is exhalation, puraka is inhalation and kumbhaka is retention. 

Geeta says that the word Kumbha means a vessel. 

 

 

It is an important section to read more fully than I can describe here as pranayama brings the Individual Self in contact with the Universal Self.

 

If you have been practicing pranayama on your own set aside 10-15 minutes to sit and quietly come to even breaths.  As the body and mind relaxes feel the breath moving in and out and how over time you begin to feel one with all that is around you.

 

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

 

 



Yoga: A Gem for Women - Asana

 

 

 

Yoga: A Gem for Women - Asana

 

Next in the 8 facets is asana, which Geeta says are a distinguishing feature of Yoga.  Asana, she says takes one from the physical plane to the spiritual plane and is the beginning foundation in the Science of Yoga (Yoga Vidya).

In the yoga sutras of Patanjali there is only a few lines that are written about asana.  Geeta writes that it is often thought that Patanjali's yoga does not deal with the physical but the spiritual. While the Hatha Yoga Pradipika deals only with the physical aspects of yoga. 
Geeta writes that "both of these views are erroneous interpretations of the Yoga Philosophy."
Both texts she writes say that one has to start with the physical and then proceed step-by-step to the spiritual as asana means holding the body in a particular posture with the bhavana or the thought that God is within.

Geeta writes how, "The body and mind are interwoven and interdependent. If there is any disturbance in the body the mind is disturbed and vice versa. In Yoga the body and the mind are cultivated by a steady process of asana practice to prevent any impediment in their functioning.  This practice gives health, poise, mobility, and immunity from disease."

I hope through your practice you find this balance of body, breath and mind.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

 

Quote by Geeta - Violence is lack of love.

 

 

 

I found this gem of a quote on Facebook yesterday. The artwork is by Yoga Jivana from Melbourne, Australia.  Their website is www.yogajivana.com.au if you want to check them out.
 
I thought fitting as we delve into Geeta's book, Yoga: A Gem for Women.

"Violence is lack of love. Without enmity, no act of violence can occur. Only love can unite society and make it cohesive.
A yogi has no hatred in the heart, but only love for all."

-Geeta Iyengar

"Loving and Leaving the Good Life"

 

I was given a wonderful book for my first Mother's Day in 1998.  It is called Simple Abundace: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach.  The book gives a daily entry with thoughtful words on living more authentically .  I have read it off and on for the past 19 years. Sometimes daily, sometimes not for months.  But, whenever I do pick it up to read I find a gem of wisdom or a reminder of how to be more present and enjoy the day I am experiencing.

Today - I didn't read February 5th, but was drawn to read July 6th which Sarah called "The Good Life".
She writes about Scott and Helen Nearing, who during the great-depression decided to go live a completely self-sufficient lifestyle.
Below are some of Helen's recommendations for living less stressfully- written in her memoir, Loving and Leaving the Good Life.

- Do the best you can, whatever arises.
- Be at peace with yourself.
- Find a job you enjoy.
- Live in simple conditions; housing, food, clothing.  Get rid of clutter.
- Contact nature every day; feel the earth under your feet.
- Take physical exercise through hard work; through gardening or walking.
- Don't worry; live one day at a time.
- Share something everyday with someone else; if you live alone, write someone; give something away; help someone else somehow.
- Take time to wonder at life and the world; see some humor in life where you can.
- Observe the one life in all things.
- Be kind to all creatures.


I wish you a good life!
Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

Yoga: A Gem for Women - The Second Facet

 

Yoga: A Gem for Women - The Second Facet - Niyama

 

The second facet Geeta writes about is the Niyamas which are the individual disciplines.  

They are the rules of conduct towards oneself - both physically and mentally.

 

As Geeta writes, Patanjali has given in Sutra II.32 the five niyamas as sauca, santosa, tapas, svadhaya and isvara pranidhana.

 

That is:

Sauca- cleanliness - inner and outer cleanliness.  Cleanliness of the sense organs and personal hygiene.

 

Santosa- contentment- Geeta writes is a state if mind that is essential for the wellbeing and development of the body and mind. She writes that discontent leads to greed and envy, while contentment gives a poised mind resulting in pure happiness. 

Tapas- austerity- which Geeta explains is the conquest of all desires by practicing purity in thought, speech and action.

 

Isvara Pranidhana - devotion or surrender to god - to perform all actions as an offering to god is pure devotion and one becomes devoid of desires.

 

Additional to the five individual disciplines Pantanjali gives us, Geeta also adds from the Hathayoga Pradipika and Yogopanidsads. 

They are:

Astikya - belief, danam - charity, siddhanta vakya sravanam - listening to established doctrines, Hri- modesty, Mati - intellectual faith, Japa- recitation of mantras and Vrata - religious observances

Geeta explains that the steps above, the rules of conduct are not unique to yoga but applicable to all.

 

She says the following steps though are found only in yoga. 

So, from here we will explore more the steps of yoga.  Asana, or the postures will be the next blog. 

As you did with the Yamas, try also with the Niyamas to spend time exploring the Niyamas. 

Namaste,

Pamela Nelson

PLN Yoga

"Helping Unite Body, Breath and Mind"

Pamela Louise Nelson 

Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor

Blog: www.plnyoga.blogspot.com - class information and more

Email: plnyogastudio@gmail.com