The heart of a yoga practice: dedicating your efforts
There are a variety of reasons why people start practicing yoga. Many wonder what all the fuss is about, some have heard that it can help with flexibility and strength, and others wonder about its stress-relieving benefits. More than fifteen million Americans have stepped onto the mat and explored how yoga can enrich their lives, but many only see the physical benefits. Despite the growing popularity of yoga, many instructors wonder if many people are really missing the true purpose of the practice.
What are yoga students missing when they only take classes to lose weight, get fit, or relieve stress? They are missing out on the heart of the practice and the opportunity to make significant positive changes in their lives. When going to a yoga class becomes bigger than something you do for yourself from time to time, you start to realize that it’s not just about you anymore. Dedicating the practice to something bigger than oneself is what makes the difference between simply exercising and practicing yoga.
These days it seems like the mention of dedication or devotion can be a sticky topic in yoga class. People tend not to respond when the idea of the divine is mentioned. It is important for yoga practitioners to know that yoga philosophy is inextricably linked with the divine, no matter what name it is given or how it is embodied. Yoga was based on the idea that there is a force greater than ourselves and yet we are still connected to it. This is the idea of Oneness, and the idea is more than quite comforting. Others who are religious fear a conflict of belief in believing in the spirituality of yoga; however, Swami Satchidananda said, “The Truth is one, the paths are many.” Therefore, people of any faith or belief can practice yoga. Even if a yoga practitioner does not believe in any form of divinity, this does not present a problem. You simply have to recognize that the nature of all beings is joy and try to connect with that.
Now that we’ve gotten that sticky topic out of the way, I want to explain this idea of dedicating your practice in more detail. It is not even so much about dedication as it is about giving up or letting go of everything, be it concerns, fears, misunderstandings or complexes. My teacher, Sharon Gannon, always promotes the idea that “you have to bend down to get up.” What she means is that you need to be rooted in the here and now and be able to release all the fruits of your actions. Why do you ask? Why shouldn’t you keep doing yoga to perfect your chatturangas, balance longer in tree pose, and get that yoga butt? The answer is a simple one. What are all those things going to get you in the long run?
Sure, nailing that Chatturanga feels great, and deepening your Hanumanasana (split pose) can give you a bit of a rush. I don’t deny it one bit, but what is the real purpose behind the movements? Yoga practice can help you break a cycle, kick bad habits, and transform your life. Yes, it can do all those things, but you have to let it. You see, you cannot acquire yoga like you can dance steps or aerobic maneuvers; you have to let go of what obscures it. You have to put your preferences aside and just be in the moment as a divine being.
So why do asana if you are not supposed to be attached to the result? Because asanas help show you inside your own mind, they clearly point out what you are holding on to and what you still need to resolve. They transform you into the tree or the warrior and make you see what it is like to come out of yourself, even for the briefest of moments. Asana also gives you the opportunity to see that both the world and yourself are constantly changing. This, in turn, gives you the opportunity to find what is real and unchanging.
When you realize that the purpose of your yoga practice is not to keep you rooted in this world, but to move through it, you begin to have faith in your ability to reach the divine with your actions. It can ignite the soul and give it a renewed sense of dignity and worth. Because you know you’re not just performing the movements for your own benefit, the sense of satisfaction from your practice can grow beyond the mat. For example, have you ever had the opportunity to offer a selfless service to another person? Perhaps you have adopted a pet and taken full responsibility for loving and caring for it, and in return, all you have received is her unconditional love for giving you happiness and freedom. This is what the act of devotion is all about: realizing that it’s not just about the wishes and desires that you just think you need.
When you begin to let go of the selfish motives of the practice and try to connect with something greater, you inspire your own capacity to love. This is the nature of spirit, and connecting with that is the ultimate goal of yoga practice. Samadhi is union with the divine, a connection with the source, which is true love. Everything else is insignificant. As my teachers, Sharon Gannon and David Life would say: “The pure desire for Oneness is the path to it.”
Realizing that all beings in this world are connected in this way is a remarkable step for the yogi. Once the lines between ‘you’ and ‘them’ begin to blur, you realize how important it is to share love and a sense of gratitude with everyone around you.
Copyright 2006 Alanna Kaivalya