Bedtime Bits~Meditations from the Mat~ We have never stayed home long enough to experience the truth about ourselves. ~Erich Schiffmann~ To properly understand the niyamas, or any of the practices of the yoga path, we must see them in terms of this observation by yoga teacher Erich Schiffmann. The second yoga sutra states, Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness. Yoga is a means for us to become still, to come home. The niyamas are an ancient set of practices, founded on the truths common to all of the great religions, that promote stillness in the practitioner. But what exactly is stillness? And whats so great about it? What if you were a race car driver? Wouldnt it make more sense to study movement instead? The simplest way to think about stillness is to first consider the state of anxiety or tense, you are drawn out of your center, you are out of balance. Asana practice gives us an excellent firsthand experience of the difference between the two states. In one, we struggle ineffectively, distracted, learning nothing, moving a lot, accomplishing a little. In the other, we are balanced, still; without moving a lot, accomplishing everything. Perfectly balanced, motionless in a yoga posture, we are able to catch a glimpse of the intersection of energy, matter and awareness. We transcend ordinary consciousness and connect to a deeper reality. In stillness we are able to have direct knowledge of our souls, to grasp the underlying reality of existence. Having experienced that stillness on the mat, we step back into our everyday lives with increased coordination and grace. And if you are a race car driver, practicing stillness will certainly make you a better one. The niyamas are practices that we can bring into our daily lives to foster stillness, to bring us ease of the heart. Each aspect of my day lends itself to a different niyama because each moment of my day offers me the opportunity to choose between pain or peace. A typical day might go like this: In the morning I practice cleanliness, zeal in practice, and devotion. At work, I practice self study, zeal in practice (remember, we are always practicing), and contentment. I practice these three observances out of a desire to avoid the chaos that comes of not practicing them, and out of a desire to know the truth about myself. Rolf Gates
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 01:00:00 +0000
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