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OPEN MIND OPEN BODY Ideas for Your Yoga Practice |
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Tranquility in Action
"The art of tranquility has 4 phases: absorption (piti), poise (samadhi), mindfulness (sati) and equanimity (upeksha)." (from Zen Therapy: Transcending the Sorrows of the Human Mind by David Brazier) Intention of Practice: To express these 4 qualities in vinyasa and asana. In each movement or pose, cultivate each phase of tranquility: 1. Become absorbed in the process of entering a pose, through skillful action, alignment, and movement. What is the foundation of the pose? How are you entering the pose? What part of the body needs to lengthen? What part of the body needs to relax? Attend to the details of discovering the actions within the movement or pose. 2. Find steadiness in the pose, or steady flow in the movement. This is akin to the quality of sthira described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras - the stability of the body and mind. 3. Cultivate mindfulness by noticing sensation and the breath. Let go of "doing" the pose or movement, and notice what the pose or movement is doing to you. What do you feel? What is happening in this moment? 4. Focus on experiencing the sukha, the joy, of the pose or movement. These phases do not need to be sequential - your attention can softly shift from one aspect to the other, until your are experiencing a state of tranquility instead of trying to intentionally create it. You can use this approach with any series of poses or movements, in self-guided practice or in a guided yoga class. Return to Ideas for Your Yoga Practice
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