I have enrolled in Yoga Teacher Training! I am not sure where it will take me, but many of my fellow Yoga classmates have told me that sometimes I will cry, sometimes, I'll hate Yoga and my gurus, and sometimes I won't want any part of it because it involves personal growth. It is hard work delving into yourself and finding out who you are, and then moving on. I do know that when I was in Italy I participated in Yoga for 1 week and immediately felt the connection. It just made me feel better and settled.
Since then we have moved to Hickory, North Carolina from Florida. The energy here is very different from that in Florida where we lived for the previous 25 years. In June, I found out about a Yoga studio here and since then I have been going to class 3 times a week. I saw a post on the centers webpage about the teacher training graduates and that was when I realized that the path was there for me to follow. The rest is history, for here I am.
During this journey, Lifetime "junk" may come to the surface; my part will be to excise the demons within, whatever and whoever they may be. Many people see yoga as a physical exercise, which is partly true, but the roots go much deeper. I am finding out that the asanas are a small part of Yoga, there is a long legacy of spirituality within it.
I went to the morning class today thinking it was the first Saturday of Teacher Training [TT]. To my surprise, it actually starts on September 1! But thats okay because it was a great practice. I was able to do asanas I had never done, or even thought I could do, and was pretty close to what was expected. Todays practice focus was "freedom and structure". It was interesting because once the structure and stability of the pose was present, freedom could be experienced. This was manifested many times in various poses. Once the stability was there, it was time to "play with the pose". For me this was very positive and reassured me that I had the strength and ability to remain stable in the structure with movement or freedom.
I have started working on the assigned readings which delve into the history and philosophy of Yoga. Assignments include Jivamukti Yoga by Gannon and Life and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. These readings are different for me because I am used to reading science books and medical journal articles. I have been taking copious notes so that I can go back and reread and digest the information. I have been introduced to a wealth of Sanskrit terms, which at times, are mind-boggling and full of syllables and consonants that don't seem to make alot of sense. Of course, I have a second column for the definition or pose name!
Another activity is to develop a daily practice or sadhana and describe it. I had to look this terms up to figure out what it means and how to approach it! No surprise there.
During this journey, Lifetime "junk" may come to the surface; my part will be to excise the demons within, whatever and whoever they may be. Many people see yoga as a physical exercise, which is partly true, but the roots go much deeper. I am finding out that the asanas are a small part of Yoga, there is a long legacy of spirituality within it.
I went to the morning class today thinking it was the first Saturday of Teacher Training [TT]. To my surprise, it actually starts on September 1! But thats okay because it was a great practice. I was able to do asanas I had never done, or even thought I could do, and was pretty close to what was expected. Todays practice focus was "freedom and structure". It was interesting because once the structure and stability of the pose was present, freedom could be experienced. This was manifested many times in various poses. Once the stability was there, it was time to "play with the pose". For me this was very positive and reassured me that I had the strength and ability to remain stable in the structure with movement or freedom.
I have started working on the assigned readings which delve into the history and philosophy of Yoga. Assignments include Jivamukti Yoga by Gannon and Life and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. These readings are different for me because I am used to reading science books and medical journal articles. I have been taking copious notes so that I can go back and reread and digest the information. I have been introduced to a wealth of Sanskrit terms, which at times, are mind-boggling and full of syllables and consonants that don't seem to make alot of sense. Of course, I have a second column for the definition or pose name!
Another activity is to develop a daily practice or sadhana and describe it. I had to look this terms up to figure out what it means and how to approach it! No surprise there.
According to Wikipedia: Sadhana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For other uses, see Sadhana (disambiguation).
Sādhanā (Sanskrit साधना), is a term for "a means of accomplishing something"[1] or more specifically "spiritual practice".[2] It includes a variety of disciplines from Hindu and Buddhist traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives. The word is also used in the same connection within Sikhism.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses, see Sadhana (disambiguation).
Sādhanā (Sanskrit साधना), is a term for "a means of accomplishing something"[1] or more specifically "spiritual practice".[2] It includes a variety of disciplines from Hindu and Buddhist traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives. The word is also used in the same connection within Sikhism.
The historian N. Bhattacharyya provides a working definition of the benefits of sadhana as follows:
"... religious sādhanā, which both prevents an excess of worldliness and moulds the mind and disposition (bhāva) into a form which develops the knowledge of dispassion and non-attachment. Sādhanā is a means whereby bondage becomes liberation."[3]
Iyengar (1993: p.22) in his English translation and commentary of Patañjali's Yoga Sutras defines 'sadhana' in relation to 'abhyasa' and 'kriya':
Sādhana is a discipline undertaken in the pursuit of a goal. Abhyāsa is repeated practice performed with observation and reflection. Kriyā, or action, also implies perfect execution with study and investigation. Therefore, sādhana, abhyāsa, and kriyā all mean one and the same thing. A sādhaka, or practitioner, is one who skillfully applies...mind and intelligence in practice towards a spiritual goal.[4]
Notes
^ V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. p. 979.
^ Flood, Gavin. An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1996. pp. 92, 156, 160, 167. ISBN 0-521-43878-0.
^ Bhattacharyya, N. N. History of the Tantric Religion. Second Revised Edition. (Manohar: New Delhi, 1999) p. 174. ISBN 81-7304-025-7
^ Iyengar, B.K.S. (1993, 2002). Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Hammersmith, London, UK: Thorsons. ISBN 978-0-00-714516-4 p.22
^ V. S. Apte. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. p. 979.
^ Flood, Gavin. An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1996. pp. 92, 156, 160, 167. ISBN 0-521-43878-0.
^ Bhattacharyya, N. N. History of the Tantric Religion. Second Revised Edition. (Manohar: New Delhi, 1999) p. 174. ISBN 81-7304-025-7
^ Iyengar, B.K.S. (1993, 2002). Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Hammersmith, London, UK: Thorsons. ISBN 978-0-00-714516-4 p.22
As you can see, there is quite a bit of introspection and thought required to develop my sadhana.
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