Yoga is a means of bringing unity to body, breath and mind in the present moment. I had a beautiful reminder of this while taking Patricia Walden’s backbend class at the recent Iyengar Yoga Conference in Chicago. Patricia reminded us that in each pose, we should take time to be present, breathe and sense the wholeness of the pose and the fullness of the moment. Without this moment of integration, our practice can become mechanical.
In a detail oriented method like Iyengar Yoga, it is important to connect the parts to the whole and the whole to the parts. The last thought we have in a pose should not be a specific physical action, even if it is correct. The last few breaths in a pose present an opportunity for integration – connection of every aspect of our being into that moment. BKS Iyengar says that we need to spread our consciousness from the core to the periphery, and from the periphery to the core.
Inspired by Patricia’s advice, at the end of a pose I take a few moments to spread my awareness to the connection between body, breath and mind. I let go of detailed physical adjustment and generate a sense of contentment with the present moment as it is, and the pose as it is. Though we may work for many years to improve and refine the asanas, we can have those moments of repose every time we practice. Patricia said that this makes the pose more nourishing.
I was struck by this idea of the pose being a form of nourishment and this single idea is transforming the way I am approaching my practice.
Namaste.