STAND UP.
"No one can go to heaven unless it has a firm foundation" - B.K.S Iyengar
Body alignment is one of the main benefits of yoga. But we need to slow down and listen carefully to be able to receive and understand all the information it's been giving to us during practice. But, nowadays it seems that we all have a lot to share but not much patience to receive. To listen with care and attention. Real listening has become almost an art. Off and ON the mat, as well.
During a yoga class, for example, one of the most simple posture is the mountain pose or Tadasana. Basically is just standing still in a perfect alignment. We stand with the aim of aligning each part of the body separately so that it forms a more harmonious whole. I realize how challenging it is for most people to stay present in Tadasana. But why is that soon we stop the physical body, the mind seems to accelerate more? It's like taking the next step seems easier than standing still? But wait. Stop and think. Isn't yoga a practice meant to study and investigate the deepest part of our bodies and minds?
You might question yourself but what can be so special about improving such a simple posture? Why so many "internal actions" when it comes to standing there? The answer is simply to understand how the 'root' of one's body is. The base. The feet. And therefore observe how are we holding up the body now. In the present moment.
Sustainability is the purpose of this moment that we are living now. Our mother Earth is 'screaming' for help. And the act of observing oneself in Tadasana is to initiate the process of sustainability in oneself. To be present is to be awake for a more enlightened consciousness. Tadasana when done using each part of the body intelligently makes us active in our own permanence. Observers of ourselves. Of our life. It keeps us more connected with our own truth.
If you find it difficult to discover yourself in the simplest postures or in the permanence of any posture, try actually "investigating" your body by relying on the directions that are being suggested to you. And then try to recreate that concentration and firmness in all other positions. The ultimate goal of being "upside down" can only be achieved with security, tranquility, and alignment if we first have the patience to watch ourselves head-on. Is there alignment in the posture when you are simply standing?
The practice of Tadasana with devotion in addition to benefiting our nervous system and aligning the spine; can also awaken us to a fuller consciousness. We are perfect in our present form but when we bring more awareness to the observation of our natural alignment we notice that we can always evolve a little more. Each day a little more. With frequent practice we feel that for more imperfections we think we may have; our authenticity/root is perfectly divine.
If we could go through the adversities of life with calm and a non react mind we will have the chance to always return to the same starting point stronger, safer and wiser. Exactly what the mountain posture should be like in your practice. Try to observe yourself whenever you stand there with your spine long and your chest open. After the challenge and the heat. If you can perceive yourself a little more equanimous and aligned each time you return to Tadasana; then the enlightenment (samadhi) will be near.
See you on or off that mat.
Namaste, dear yoga lovers.
Body alignment is one of the main benefits of yoga. But we need to slow down and listen carefully to be able to receive and understand all the information it's been giving to us during practice. But, nowadays it seems that we all have a lot to share but not much patience to receive. To listen with care and attention. Real listening has become almost an art. Off and ON the mat, as well.
During a yoga class, for example, one of the most simple posture is the mountain pose or Tadasana. Basically is just standing still in a perfect alignment. We stand with the aim of aligning each part of the body separately so that it forms a more harmonious whole. I realize how challenging it is for most people to stay present in Tadasana. But why is that soon we stop the physical body, the mind seems to accelerate more? It's like taking the next step seems easier than standing still? But wait. Stop and think. Isn't yoga a practice meant to study and investigate the deepest part of our bodies and minds?
You might question yourself but what can be so special about improving such a simple posture? Why so many "internal actions" when it comes to standing there? The answer is simply to understand how the 'root' of one's body is. The base. The feet. And therefore observe how are we holding up the body now. In the present moment.
Sustainability is the purpose of this moment that we are living now. Our mother Earth is 'screaming' for help. And the act of observing oneself in Tadasana is to initiate the process of sustainability in oneself. To be present is to be awake for a more enlightened consciousness. Tadasana when done using each part of the body intelligently makes us active in our own permanence. Observers of ourselves. Of our life. It keeps us more connected with our own truth.
If you find it difficult to discover yourself in the simplest postures or in the permanence of any posture, try actually "investigating" your body by relying on the directions that are being suggested to you. And then try to recreate that concentration and firmness in all other positions. The ultimate goal of being "upside down" can only be achieved with security, tranquility, and alignment if we first have the patience to watch ourselves head-on. Is there alignment in the posture when you are simply standing?
The practice of Tadasana with devotion in addition to benefiting our nervous system and aligning the spine; can also awaken us to a fuller consciousness. We are perfect in our present form but when we bring more awareness to the observation of our natural alignment we notice that we can always evolve a little more. Each day a little more. With frequent practice we feel that for more imperfections we think we may have; our authenticity/root is perfectly divine.
If we could go through the adversities of life with calm and a non react mind we will have the chance to always return to the same starting point stronger, safer and wiser. Exactly what the mountain posture should be like in your practice. Try to observe yourself whenever you stand there with your spine long and your chest open. After the challenge and the heat. If you can perceive yourself a little more equanimous and aligned each time you return to Tadasana; then the enlightenment (samadhi) will be near.
See you on or off that mat.
Namaste, dear yoga lovers.
 |
| MOUNTAINS @ Eastwoodhill Arboretum image and text by @mariaelisadelgaudiogeronazzo |
Comments
Post a Comment