Spring Renewal
The seasons remind us that renewal is natural.
Nature does not rush. Like the trees that dot the hillsides that surround us, we, too, are allowed to emerge slowly from dormancy. Lately I’ve been craving a fresh start — not a dramatic one, but something that feels like clearing out stale energy, stale thoughts and emotions, in order to see things from a fresher, newer, perspective.
It’s important to remind ourselves that renewal is not the same as reinvention. We do not need to succumb to the pressure to constantly change/improve ourselves. Instead, renewal is about returning to ourselves. On the surface level, renewal could simply be a return to beloved hobbies or activities. From a Yogic perspective, renewal is about returning to something much deeper. Patanjali begins his Yoga Sutras with the statement that Yoga is defined as the process of controlling all of the movements and disturbances within the mindfield so that we, the practitioners, can return to - become established in - our own true nature. A renewal. And what is the process of returning to one’s Self? Patanjali gives us many methods, the most practical of which is practicing Ashtanga Yoga: the Eight Limb path.
We can think of the “limbs” as the rungs on a ladder; each rung (or limb) builds upon the other. (It’s important to note that different Yoga Philosophies/texts have different limbs and different starting places. The Natha yogis, who authored a text called the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, believed one should start with the body. Patanjali, on the other hand, believed we should start with how we show up in the world, which is what my post will reference.)
Over the next few weeks I will blog about each of Patanjali’s limbs, one at a time. For today, I will offer a very succinct overview:
Limb 1: the five Yamas (restraints): non-harming, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-hoarding/non-possessiveness. Practicing these five restraints means we are mindful how we interract with others. We remain honest with our motives and intentions so that we do not intentionally hurt anyone/anything else, we do not take what is not ours and we do not hoard.
Limb 2: the five Niyamas (observances): purity, contentment, austerity, self-study, and surrender to God. Practicing these five observances means we take care of and find peace in what we currently have. We study our thoughts and behaviors. We surrender to our personal concept of God (which can be as simple as surrendering to the moment.)
Limb 3: Asana. Traditionally this was a practice of stretching and exercising the body in order to be able to sit comfortably for meditation. Today we view Asana as a series of postures intended to keep the body healthy.
Limb 4: Pranayama Traditionally these were practices designed to cleanse our pranic energy. For most householders, pranayama refers to a series of breathing practices to calm and clear the mind.
Limb 5: Pratyahara. Withdrawal of the senses. This is a transitional limb that brings us within and prepares us for the internal limbs that follow.
Limb 6: Dharana. Concentration. Learning to focus the mind on one thing. This mental exercise prepares us for meditation.
Limb 7: Dhyana. Meditation. Now that we have learned to control our actions, our body is healthy, our energy is pure, and our mind is focused, we can induce Alpha and Theta brainwaves and meditate.
Limb 8: Samadhi. This is peace that passes all understanding. It is the calm within the storm. In Yoga, everything we do is intended to reveal this blissful space that is always hiding deep within us. We cannot buy peace. We cannot find peace hiding under a rock. We cannot steal peace from anyone else. Peace is revealed when we remove the obstacles that hide it from our awareness.
If you are interested in learning how to practice the 8-limbs in a very simple and effective way, while enjoying a delicious brunch, register for my upcoming event: Spring Renewal: Yoga & Brunch at Trelio. Kirsty Wimbish and I will guide you through lovely beginner-friendly Yoga (Asana), calming breathwork (pranayama), journalling and reflection (Yamas and Niyamas), and mindfulness (Dharana and Dhyana). Our workshop concludes with an Ayurvedic-inspired brunch created especially for this event by Chef Ross. Journals are provided, loaner yoga mats are available, and every participant receives a wonderful gift.
Register today by visiting: https://www.massagewithlindamarie.com/events/spring-renewal