March has been the month that brought me back to pranayama. Sometimes I even wonder weather we chose to start practicing, or if we just put the intention and then life takes over. Even the Gita speaks of this, life does indeed take its course and having any control over it is just illusion. I am grateful it is happening.
The return happened in four steps, which are:
1. Reawakened curiosity: The first glimpse of exploration came when I felt ready again, although a bit confused. Then came some synchronistic universal leads, as in finding my old prescription or Boodiba talking about her own encounters with it through her fourth India experience.
2. Thorough Exploration of printed material: I revisited Iyengar and Swami Rama's books, which was truly enlightening and even encouraging. I cannot find my CD of Richard Freeman "Yoga Breathing", which I used to own, perhaps that is also a sign...
3. Determining and Settling on a practice: I have now a dedicated practice, separated from the asana practice, and the interesting thing is that is leading me towards meditation. The quiet and steady seat after pranayama practice is such a seduction into the silence. Worth trying.
4. Continue Exploring: One thing I found is a certain discontent about having to do preparations for pranayama, I mean, are they really necessary? . I keep on discovering interesting facts about it. All in all, quite happy to have stumbled upon it again, thank you Ganesh, Thailand, teachers, bloggers.
I've only practiced once since I got back!
ReplyDeleteWell, your life has been a bit in turmoil with the shala situation... I am sure as soon as all gets stable again you will :-)
ReplyDeleteYa... I wish I had time to go home, shower and then practice. I've heard it's good to have 20/30m between asana and pranayama, though I can't remember if I heard it or read it, where or why. If you shower and get ready after asana that's a natural gap.
ReplyDeleteWhen I get home from work the last thing I feel like is more self improvement. Then I just want wine and, as per last night, a good cry.
Oh, sorry to hear that, and I know what you mean it is harder after a full day. On the bright side you can do chackra bandhasana!, I was just looking at it... amazing!
ReplyDeleteWell I totally have to be put into it, which is not so impressive. What IS impressive is when people can walk hands to their feet and grab their own ankles solo.
ReplyDeleteYa I had to let it out last night. End of an era. And I hadn't seen it coming.
I am sure this new "era" will bring new and good things, it always happens like that in yoga, I should know, when I came back from Thailand my life was COMPLETELY upside down, no job, having to sell the house, and the car, no yoga teacher... but it all works out for the best... faith is one thing to stick to in times like this :-)
ReplyDeleteYa it's hard isn't it? Transition...
ReplyDeleteWell, the way I see it is that it does not have to be... it is what it is... better to breathe and stop the negative dialog because I find that that is what breaks me... Believe me it took a LOT of faith for me to stay calm when everything crumbled down... but I decided I would not complaint, and that I would trust the universe... things somewhat worked out... they always do :-)
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