Yesterday one of my students reposted a video from DoYouYoga.com about morning rituals. It depicted a scantily clad yogini littered with tattoos making a simple cup of herbal chai which progressed to a not so simple morning yoga sequence in a dimly lit apartment. The music was engaging and the yogini’s execution flawless. It’s hard not to aspire to that when you start your practice. But I am here to tell you that no matter how beautiful the lens and how dedicated the student the way we look in our everyday practice is far from perfect.
In response to the post I put together this little piece on what has become of Yoga.
Yes its true I am an early riser and absolutely love my yoga practice- but I definitely don’t bother to dress up or have a cup of tea and I actually have to make myself do the practice. Once I am on the mat and I start I’m fine and then when I finish I’m like ” What was all the fuss about?” Part of the reason I am able to hit that mat every day is the consistency of the sequence. I practice Ishta Mala. It is nourishing for the tissues and has a beautiful seated sequence that literally detoxifies the body while building Ojas ( immunity). I was introduced to the practice by South African Yogi John Weddepohl and I haven’t looked back. I no longer injure myself, have incredible strength and stamina and when I choose to do a different sequence ( like the one in the video) I have all the flexibility and vigour needed. I am so passionate about daily practice and a practice that can be repeated and memorised that we now teach it on our retreats and trainings.
I hope you enjoy the view into my morning practice and If you feel like inspiring your yoga practice, gaining new skills which will enable you to teach yourself and find out the true and real meaning of yoga without the branded hype- we still have some space in our upcoming Teachers Training October 13- November 21, 2014.
Poem from ” Morning Pranam”
its not about the clothes i wear or the tattoos i have its life itself flowing through this body
Its not about the breath the mind or some notion I have of what yoga is
Its not about how many poses I can strike, how much I can push my body
Its about being with what is as it is
no more
no less
so what is this practice?
Divine worship
an offering of love
without expectation of reward or gain
everything is already gained
at birth it is so
the practice is a dance and a flowering
the breath glides in and out and if I falter
it is not me who falls
only the body seems as though
moving through contrasting layers
none really knows anymore what yoga is
because everyone has their own idea
even this yoga has become a conditioning
we have forgotten ourselves in the practice
lost to ourselves all the while experiencing ourselves
thinking the yoga is necessary for stilling the mind
The mind will never be still
just as I as an individual am never still
thats why the movement is so potent
its is my nature to move
in the presence of what?
that is the question that begs an answer
Nice information yoga is very helpful for all.