Winter Inspiration

We welcome the month of December with twinkling lights, warm sweaters, sweet treats and holiday parties with family and friends. This month is meant to be a joyous one, filled with cheer but sometimes the cold, dark days can leave us feeling a bit down and uninspired.

Inspiration is not a quality reserved for artists, writers or musicians, but rather it is a feeling we all need in order to experience life in a full and enthusiastic way. It provides energy to the present and light to the future.

Sometimes when we are feeling uninspired it can be a welcome reminder that the word inspire means to breathe. The etymology of the word breaks down as: in = into and spire = breath. So often we look for inspiration in our external world but, similar to many of the teachings of yoga and meditation, it can prove more advantageous to turn our focus inwards to find that inner lift or boost that inspiration gifts. 

The word inspire is also related to the word, spirit, from the Latin spiritus. When we feel like we are lacking inspiration and spirit, our yoga and meditation practice can be a place to turn to in order to find that inner enthusiasm that drives us forward.

As a dancer, I will often take a yoga class before heading to rehearsal. Class not only prepares me physically, but it enables a calmer, more open mind, receptive to creativity, trying new things, and ultimately, inspiration. Yoga and meditation give us a break from our regular internal mental chatter so that the mind is more clear headed by the end of our time on the mat and thus more open to new ideas and perspectives, a much needed requirement for finding inspiration. 

If you feel like you could use a little more internal enthusiasm these winter days, find a way to practice. Whether that means a few minutes of meditation, going to a yoga class or practicing a few asanas on your own, find a way to look inwards so that you are fueled to move forward with inspiration.

Ocean Gazing Lessons: Dharana, the Art of Concentration

Last month at The Shala we took an in depth look at Pratyahara, or the withdrawal of the senses. The limbs of yoga are systematic, the limb preceding the next providing you with the tools you need to enable your best shot at tackling the limb to come. As we flip our calendars to September, and we shift our focus to the 6th limb, Dharana, or concentration, we are uniquely prepared to practice single pointed focus, having taken a big step back from external distractions.

So often as New Yorkers we pride ourselves on being able to focus in the form of working very hard but we often ride the stress train to meet our goals.

When we practice Dharana, the goal is to maintain the calm energy that we developed through Pratyahara while still directing our attention to one place. In yoga this focal point is the breath.

The other day I went to the beach and the tropical storm making its way up the east coast had brought these huge, beautiful waves. When I looked down the beach, 90% of the beach goers were sitting up, gazing out at the ocean. Everyone shared a collective, calm focus directed towards the water. We want to find a similar balance of serene focus in our practice.

There is sometimes a misconception of yoga and meditation that its practitioners are spaced out or ‘out to lunch’. In actuality the practices advocate just the opposite and encourage a tuning in rather than a checking out.

So the question is, how do we collect our attention in a concentrated yet peaceful fashion while maintaining a stress-free mind and demeanor?

Yoga is the union of opposites so the effort and action placed towards achieving this pure attention while maintaining a chill mind is the goal itself. Just like a muscle, the skill of concentration is strengthened the more you ask of it. This limb is attained by the continuous intention to return the mind back to its focal point while at the same time keeping an easy mind about it. Just like the buoyancy and consistency of the ocean waves, your mind can find steadiness through the practice of Dharana with calm, steady practice over time.

Practice Dharana with a Breath Based Meditation:

Sit up tall, close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. No matter how many times the mind wanders from the breath, bring it back to your breathing in the most loving, kind, gentle way possible. No berating yourself, no guilt, just simply try again and again. The process is the goal and over time this task will become easier. Eventually you will find yourself with not only the ability to focus more acutely but with more energy as your mind is a little less scattered and a little more serene, setting you up nicely for the next limb meditation.

Peace is Just One Step (Backward) Away

My family has a small cottage upstate, a very simple, quiet place on a lake. I grew up going there and during my 9 years of living in New York City have made it a ritual trip every summer. I went last weekend and, as always, I was struck by the simplicity it offers. For the longest time we didn't have a TV nor wifi. It is a place where you sit on the dock, lie in the hammock, gaze at the stars and things start to slow down. Even though we now have a couple of modern upgrades, it still encourages these habits that enable one to take a step back and have some much needed reflection time.

The cottage, affectionately referred to as the lake, instills the values of a life simplified, where just being is the goal and the to do lists and worries about the future melt away.

The beauty is that when offered the opportunity to step back, so often it is the very time when one is gifted with inspiration, solutions, motivation. Sometimes all we need is just a little space, a little distance so we can return to our thoughts with a clearer perception.

At the Shala we have been making our way through the 8 limbs of yoga, focusing on one limb each month. More often than not, when we think of yoga we think of the 3rd limb of yoga, the physical element of the practice. Of the 8 limbs of yoga, Asana practice, the physical practice, is an incredibly important part of yoga but our practice and lives can benefit from taking a look at the other 7 limbs.

August’s focus has been on the 5th limb, Pratyahara, or the withdrawal of the senses. As the limbs progress, they move from an external focus to a more internal one with Pratyahara as the limb that initiates this transition. In an age where we are constantly plugged in, we are at risk of sensory overload and we could all benefit from a bit of introspection that can be found with this practice.

Fall always comes with a ‘back to school’ feeling, when not only kids go back to school but we return to our usual routines after a summer where there is often travel and/or schedule shifts. I usually take the lake trip in August and this time enables me to recharge my batteries, collect my thoughts and pave a clear mental path on which to travel when the Fall begins.

We can find this same space and sense of ease, minus the 5 hour drive to the finger lakes, by practicing Pratyahara.

By noticing when our attention starts to move externally, we have the opportunity to bring it back. This practice enables a break from distractions and creates room for some clarity that will leave one replenished, restored and ready to embrace the autumn ahead.

Ways to Practice Pratyahara:

Take a Technology Break:

Turn off your phone, shut down the computer. Whether you are outside or indoors, cut down on your distractions.

Meditate:

Find a tall seat, close your eyes, focus on your breath. Even if just for a few minutes, meditation practice can do wonders to help you turn the senses inwards.

Focus on Drishti, or eye gaze, during Yoga Practice:

Pay extra attention to where the eyes focus in practice. This is a great way to decrease distractions.

Owasco Lake