That whole process

After my book was published I decided I did not want to do a book launch. It’s not me it’s not part of my personality but I did appear on the Finding Harmony podcast hosted by one of my first teachers Harmony Slater.

I listened to it the night before it was posted – Harmony sent me a copy. The next day after it was posted I realized I could also watch it (I’m not a social media aficionado or user). So I watched it. So that is two times that I listened to the content of that podcast.

I noticed two things; my voice is not at all what I thought it sounded like. And I kept repeating myself. I kept saying “that whole process”.

Those three words are very vague. So I thought I’d explain…

There’s a transformation that happens when you start and continue to practice ashtanga yoga. Because the practice is a set sequenced series of asanas (postures) it becomes second nature. Now, when I show up for practice, I don’t need a teacher to tell me what to do next – I know what to do (I still need help though). That takes an input out of the equation and allows me to concentrate on one thing. I was taught ashtanga Mysore style(1) which develops an ownership of the practice – I have to learn it, practice it, be it. Those are three different steps; parts of “that whole process”.

As you learn the practice there are lots of inputs like being taught how to do the asanas, how to breathe coming into the asanas, and how to breathe while doing the asanas. And where to look, gaze point (drishti) while doing the asanas. Your taught the asanas in sequence – it’s something you have to remember. The asanas also get more difficult as you move through the sequence. There is a lot going on (lots of inputs) and therefore the mind is active and the beginning benefits you are receiving are mostly just physical.

As you practice it becomes more automatic and the mind has fewer inputs to deal with. The mind begins to calm and concentrate on the practice. As you begin to focus on practice you notice that you’re getting better at each asana. You get more flexible, breathe purposefully, get physically stronger. And you begin to notice how you’re changing. It’s positive reinforcement and the more you practice the more reinforcement you get.

You get to a point where you can just be. That is when all those physical moments become automatic – no need to think about them. No need to think about what comes next – it just happens. You’ve built a strong foundation and the asanas appear to happen in the background while you focus on breathing. This is when the mind calms. And the other benefits of practice come into play. Those benefits engage the parasympathetic nervous system specifically the vagus nerve. That is when your body calms itself and begins to repair those non physical aspects that require attention.

Harmony, in the podcast, used three words to describe some of what I talked about in my book and what practice taught me. And those words were patience, resilience, surrender. Those were her words and those first two words I understand but surrender was not what I originally thought my practice taught me. Surrender can mean to give up, capitulate, or surrender to some authority. That is definitely not me. So I view that word in this sense; I released myself from my own control. And it wasn’t something I did consciously it just happened and I noticed the change. And so did my kids and what better proof do I need. So I accepted it, it’s now part of me, it was always there – practice just shed a light on it.

In short, (very short), that was my experience and how I learned ashtanga yoga.

“That whole process”.

Ahimsa

(1) Mysore style teaching is how ashtanga was originally taught in Mysore India. You are taught in a group setting at your own pace. There could be people who have been studying for years and some who have just started. Individual instructions are provided as you work through the set sequence of asanas.