It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self, and intelligence.
― B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life
I keep coming back to this phrase during my practice and in teaching. So, what do I mean, "create your container"?
No, it’s not a DIY project - at least, not the kind you’re probably thinking. With mine, there are no specialized equipment or skills required - you already have everything you need.
What I am referring to is finding that place of comfort and ease within your own body - an internal container that is personalized just for you.
Yoga is about creating space in our bodies and in our minds so contentment can find a place to live within us. To do so, requires awareness, learning about our bodies, some physical strength, flexibility, and mental focus. Together, these help us to create a container within our bodies where we may find an integration of body, mind, and spirit.
Throughout Western culture, we think of Yoga as the various poses one does, but these are just one part of the entire practice. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, considered the bible or authorized text of yoga, identifies an Eight Limb Path, or steps, in how to live a meaningful and purposeful life. Following these eight steps leads to the state of Super Bliss or Union – the merging of individual consciousness into the universal consciousness.
The third sutra is asana, which we commonly translate as "pose" but its meaning is much more vibrant. The literal translation of asana is “to sit” or to "take a seat" - a position in which one can remain relaxed, yet steady and grounded in the present moment for an extended period.
In Patanjali's days, there were no books or detailed illustrations of the hundreds of various yoga asanas that are available to us today. For Patanjali and his followers, the practice was to find your seat - a pose in which you can align and harmonize the physical body and all its layers to bring the emotional, mental and spiritual body together to attain equilibrium or balance. It is the same for us modern-day yogis.
We all need stability in our life - a quiet, reassuring voice which whispers that regardless of what is going on around us, we are okay. Sometimes that sense of stability comes externally from family and friends, but ultimately, it is an inner confidence - a sense of balance from within - that we must seek to sustain us.
This quiet inner wisdom allows us the space to breathe, time to pause and assimilate, rather than fight our way through each new challenge. When life distracts our focus, our yoga practice is there to bring us back to our center. By cultivating a regular practice, we can develop the mental stamina and inner strength we need to cope with whatever ups and downs life gives us. In other words, it enables us to create our container.
Because the practice of yoga is personal and unique to the individual, only you alone can determine if your practice is providing the internal growth you seek. So, how's your container? Perhaps it needs a little refurbishing. Let me know how I can help.
Holiday Workshops & Gifts
The holidays ahead can be festive and stressful, and may quickly throw us off balance. Set yourself up for holiday success and make plans to attend my upcoming workshop, “Finding Balance On and Off the Mat.” Learn more about how to approach life with calm and balance. Click here for information and to reserve your space.
What's on your holiday list? It's not too early to think about gifting yourself or someone special a private yoga lesson. Give one, a series, or let us customize something unique for you. Click here to learn more.