What Ashtanga Yoga is about
BY les | Sun 04 Sep, 2016
Easy Jet have a sale on that ends on Tuesday you can now go to Malaga for only £120 why not come and get some sun at my Spanish mountain retreat before the start of the long winter days?
I think that sometimes we loose the essence of what the Ashtanga Yoga is about. So just to remind you. It is primarily a mindfulness meditation. It does not matter how flexible you are the smile the breath and the Bandha’s (core strength) are what it is all about. For those of you who want a greater understanding of the engaging of the locks let me know and I will send you some information. If you want further knowledge I would recommend a book called “Moola Banda, The Master Key”
For those of you who are now thinking how can I practice mindfulness when I am trying to get my body into a pretzel shape you are doing it wrong! Your body is only as bendy as it is at that moment in time so don’t force it there are no prizes for yoga you do not have to compete with the person on the mat next to you. What you should be focusing on is the breath and the smile. That lovely slow in and that lovely slow out. If you do not know whether you have the technique see this clip from my DVD. Remember the mind focuses on the breath – you are in the now you are meditating!
Remember “ It’s what is on the inside that matters”
EFFORTLESS
Once Buddha was walking with a few of his followers. While they were travelling, they happened to pass a lake. They stopped there and Buddha told one of his disciples,
"I am thirsty. Do get me some water from that lake there.
The disciple walked up to the lake.
When he reached it, he noticed that right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake.
As a result, the water became very muddy, very turbid. The disciple thought, "How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink!"
So he came back and told Buddha, "The water in there is very muddy. I don't think it is fit to drink."
After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink.
The disciple obediently went back to the lake.
This time too he found that the lake was muddy. He returned and informed Buddha about the same.
After sometime, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back.
The disciple reached the lake to find the lake absolutely clean and clear with pure water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had.
So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.
Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said," See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be.... and the mud settled down on its own - and you got clear water. Your mind is also like that!
When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don't have to put in any effort to calm it down.
It will happen. It is effortless.
"What did Buddha emphasize here?
He said, "It is effortless." Having 'Peace of Mind' is not a strenuous job; it is an effortless process!
Keep smiling not because of something, but in spite of everything.
The video Validation has received over 9 million hits you may find it interesting.
Finally.
Remember Yoga shows us the way to happiness.
Yours in Yoga,
Les
TAGS: spanish, yoga, retreat, ashtanga