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August
is a great time to slow down, assess and
conserve for the "back-to-everything" energy that heralds the
fall.
Examine
the three energies that comprise our Yoga,
contractive, expansive and equanimous.
These pulsations inward
and
outward
lead
us to stillness
for
moments at a time.
This occurs on every level; pose, practice, life.
In Sanskrit, this pulsation is called SPANDA,
and the three energies are called
nimesha, unmesha and sthira, respectively.
In Anusara Yoga: muscular energy, organic energy
and
the alignment, the place of stillness,
"...stability,
the point or place at which
there is a calm, strong, stable potential,
where neither and both are fully present-- that is sthira...
like the eye of a hurricane, the space between the breaths:
still, but alive and moving."
"Sthira ...connotes a certain motionless fixity,
as you think of, say, a tree... a tree is sthira because
it is what it is, it stays where it is, it does not waver
from its place,
it is content to be in its place, it has taken root."
-
dr. douglas brooks
It is vital to note that this fixity does not connote rigidity,
it has a definitive pulsation, motion, in its stillness.
As
a community we are becoming more aware of the
ways in which Yoga helps us recognize
that quality of sthira within ourselves
when it arises.
When
we breathe, slow down, observe and align,
we are reaching into our core, nimesha,
building foundations for everything carefully,
a process of involution;
cultivating that sense of quiet, sthira.
This is tremendously challenging,
to breathe, to watch, to listen.
We all struggle with this, on so many levels.
Yoga is where we can practice breathing through the tight spots,
through the aspects of ourselves and our practices
that we don't want to see,
and being easier on ourselves.
This inward movement is the gateway to
acknowledging the true support
we can only receive from within ourselves.
From there we can align with ourselves and open outward-
in our practice as well as in our lives.
blessings,
gratitude as ever,
elena,
lynn and the staff of virayoga
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