What is Yoga?
I wish I could tell you, in fact I don't think anyone can. Out there you will find plenty of teachers, gurus, and books all describing what yoga is and how it should be practiced, but the fact of the matter is - Yoga is to be experienced.
It is a divine gift that can be tasted only by you. So do not take anyone's word for it! Explore within, trust your own felt sense, and listen deeply.
Don't worry, while you (and I!) might still be figuring out what IT is, the fact that you are HERE means that you are already halfway THERE.
Ashtanga Opening
ॐ
वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे सन्दर्शितस्वात्मसुखावबोधे ।
निःश्रेयसे जाङ्गलिकायमाने संसारहालाहलमोहशान्त्यै ॥
आबाहुपुरुषाकारं शङ्खचक्रासिधारिणम् ।
सहस्रशिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम् ॥
Oṃ
vande gurūnāṃ caraṇāravinde sandarśita-svātma-sukhāvabodhe |
niḥśreyase jāṅgalikāyamāne saṃsāra-hālāhala-moha-śāntyai ||
ābāhu-puruṣākāraṃ śaṅkha-cakrāsi-dhāriṇam |
sahasra-śirasaṃ śvetaṃ praṇamāmi patañjalim ||
Oṃ
I bow to the two lotus feet of the gurus,
Through which the understanding of the happiness in my own Soul has been revealed.
My ultimate refuge, acting like a snake doctor,
For the pacifying of the delusions caused by the poison of cyclic existence.
Who has the form of a human up to the arms,
Bearing a conch, a discus and a sword.
White, with a thousand heads,
I bow to Patañjali.
Traditionally the opening mantra is chanted at the beginning of practice. The first verse is part of a longer poem called The Yoga Tārāvalī attributed to Adi Śaṅkara. The second verse is part of the Patañjali invocation often used to open Iyengar classes or before chanting the Yoga Sutras. I personally like to evoke a feeling of gratitude when chanting this mantra.
Ashtanga Closing
ॐ
वन्दे गुरूणां चरणारविन्दे सन्दर्शितस्वात्मसुखावबोधे ।
निःश्रेयसे जाङ्गलिकायमाने संसारहालाहलमोहशान्त्यै ॥
आबाहुपुरुषाकारं शङ्खचक्रासिधारिणम् ।
सहस्रशिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम् ॥
Oṃ
vande gurūnāṃ caraṇāravinde sandarśita-svātma-sukhāvabodhe |
niḥśreyase jāṅgalikāyamāne saṃsāra-hālāhala-moha-śāntyai ||
ābāhu-puruṣākāraṃ śaṅkha-cakrāsi-dhāriṇam |
sahasra-śirasaṃ śvetaṃ praṇamāmi patañjalim ||
Oṃ
I bow to the two lotus feet of the gurus,
Through which the understanding of the happiness in my own Soul has been revealed.
My ultimate refuge, acting like a snake doctor,
For the pacifying of the delusions caused by the poison of cyclic existence.
Who has the form of a human up to the arms,
Bearing a conch, a discus and a sword.
White, with a thousand heads,
I bow to Patañjali.
The closing mantra known as The Mangala mantra is a prayer for peace said to be found in the ancient scriptures the "Rig Veda". It is a wishful prayer of peace, prosperity and wellbeing for all beings everywhere. I personally like to evoke a feeling of loving-kindness when canting this mantra.
-Translations by Zoë Slatoff
Why do we chant?
The one and only Richard Freeman answers this question
“Chanting and mantra recitation have accompanied yoga practice for thousands of years. Chanting is of course both the in-toning of the rich vibratory sounds and the simultaneous listening to them. The deep listening naturally suspends the normal movement of the discursive mind and allows contemplation of the patterns of sensation, emotion, and imagination.”
Reading
A few books that have been personal companions and I return to for inspiration.
The Mirror of Yoga by Richard Freeman
The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy
The biology of belief by Bruce H. Lipton Ph.D
Lovingkindness by Sharon Salzberg
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Edwin Bryant
The heart of Yoga by T.K.V Desichakar
What we say matters by Judith Hanson Lasater
The courage to teach by Parker Palmer
The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran
Faith by Sharon Salzberg
The art of Vinyasa by Richard Freeman
The truth of Yoga by Daniel Simpson
The body keeps the score by Bessel van der Kolk
Functional Anatomy of Yoga by David Keil
Loving Kindness Meditation
This practice is also known as metta (loving kindness) bhavana (cultivation), it is a meditation practice of cultivating unconditional loving-kindness and compassion for all living beings, in other words it is generosity of the heart no matter the circumstances. While it is best known as a Buddhist practice it is worth mentioning that Patañjali also emphasized in the Yoga Sutras the importance of fostering these qualities. A Buddhist discourse on this practice is found in the Karaniya Metta Sutta where the Buddha teaches the monks the practice of Loving Kindness; how to open the heart to fear and meet it with kindness and friendliness.
At the end of the day there is no greater power than love.
Inspirational Poetry
Poetry always uplifts my spirit. I hope by sharing these poems I love I get to uplift yours.
