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september;
newness.
in
august on this page we examined the three aspects of SPANDA,
the sacred pulsation inward and outward that comprises all of life,
evoking stillness for precious moments at a time.
for
september, a brief practical explanation
of how we can bring the concept of spanda into our lives
to be more proactive instead of reactive in our daily interactions.
NIMESHA
is the primary, contractive energy of spanda,
looking within, observing our state,
determining what we can relinquish and/or cultivate
to be productive and easeful in any moment.
when we practice 'nimesha',
we observe what we've learned, what we know inside.
when
we bring that inner knowledge to the level of PRACTICE,
this
is the UNMESHA, the movement outward, the expansion.
from going within first and foremost, pausing,
we can begin anything- eating,
speaking, sitting, or the biggest project-
from a true awareness, a real
sense of participation in ourselves
and the creation of our daily lives.
instead of always only reaching outside of ourselves
for understanding and approval,
our
interactions, our work, our relationships
become more authentic and useful when we look inside first,
ask ourselves what we really want, where we
are in any situation.
perhaps
then we experience brief glimpses of STHIRA,
the stillness, in the breath, between the breaths.
this
is all very new to me, the very specificity of
participating in myself in this way,
observing daily activities in smaller defined moments
through inward attention and sitting still
a couple of times a day to review it all.
then the subsequent outward moving energy is infused with my choice;
what i think, say and do is becoming
more than a reaction to some other person/situation.
the Yoga practice helps me remember this-
to watch, to participate, to breathe.
to see more clearly my own doubts, insecurities and fears,
and how they are coming through in my daily life.
my
teachers remind me to go slowly, to take it easy on myself,
to work at it one day at a time, be as close to myself as i possibly
can--
so that when i teach, it's coming from my real experience;
not a book, not their words, but my own.
in
the words of our teacher douglas brooks:
"the more we go inside to know ourselves,
the more and with greater facility, ease and sweetness
we connect outwardly to the world."
we
can all practice this;
the sacred art of creating our own experiences.
blessings for a beautiful autumn.
elena, lynn and the staff of virayoga
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