About 5 years ago I learned of a talented yoga instructor in Asheville. I made a note to attend sometime. Year after year I would be reminded by a mention here or there, but still I never went. Finally, Gary and I made the drive up this week to attend a much-anticipated class. I was excited. I was beyond excited. And I was in desperate need of a yoga flow from the receiving end.
As the new student, I got my mat all set up and smiled inside as I waited for class to begin. The reputation that preceded the instructor was accurate, I discovered. He is a phenomenal teacher, who led a dynamic and intentional practice, encouraging students to find their edge but let go of their ego. The flow was challenging, but with options, and sweet mantras played in the background.
And I sat through the whole thing.
At the beginning of the practice, the instructor offered the option of a breath-focused meditation in lieu of a moving flow, arguably a more challenging choice. And in that moment, despite my deep excitement to stretch and work, I decided to practice detachment from an ideal I have long held. You see, for me, movement is life. Movement is the joy of feeling our human bodies and energetic bodies combine in a symphony of colors, sounds and flavors. Movement to me is like a nice glass of wine, which many enjoy at the end of the day. And I had just traded it for water. Pure, clean, water.
I have long recognized my attachment to movement, and have over the years trained myself to become more and more comfortable with stillness, but I would justify the healthy balance by making sure I had plenty of my fix before or after. Am I alone in this practice? Anyone?
Attachment is attachment is attachment. I've got my thing; you've got yours.
Aparigraha
is the last of the five yamas of Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga. It often translates to 'non-greed', 'non-possessiveness', and 'non-attachment'.
It's symbolized by the open palm.
Being creatures of habit, we find what floats our boat and we do it over, and over, and over, and when we don't get that thing/service/reaction/time, we get antsy, anxious, or even angry.
In short, we create suffering within ourselves, which draws us away from ease and flow.
Aparigraha calls us to release suffering by being open to warmly accept, without judgement, WHAT IS RIGHT NOW.
It was time for me to sit still.
And you know what? It was heavenly. Life-changing even.
An hour focused only on my breath, had never been experienced by this body. But I discovered another way that I am limitless, and likely, I could have sat for another hour. Just being me, without a need or agenda or a fixation to quench.
As I ponder the whole thing,
I think it was the
invitation
--from someone I already trusted and respected,
synchronistically paired with
a conversation just that day about my attachment to movement.
My mind
-space
was primed
for
deviating from the norm.
T
his last piece is important. One cannot create lasting change through force or coercion. One's eyes must open by their own will. But even that cannot happen without introspection and conversation. So, begin
by
asking yourself probing questions about your habits and preferences. "
What is the value of _____?" is a great one for so many elements of our lives.
If you find a deep deep preference or attachment to one way or belief, you are a prime candidate for an invitation to open your palm
s.
