A practice of any two or three (or more) poses strung together, repeated over and over can become like a rhythm. This rhythm can serve to help the mind focus and let the awareness stay with what is happening inside the body, rather than outside. You can practice in this way for a few minutes a day to allow yourself to go within. In turn you will begin to feel a greater sense of your body, as it becomes stronger and more flexible. Additionally, you will become more aware of the fact that the body itself is not all that you are. If this is hard for you to understand, just try it (regularly and with your attention) and see what happens.
“River Wharfe Bolton Abbey” by Tom Curtis
As you begin to get more accustomed to the rhythm of the body as you work with your poses, you may begin to notice the mind getting bored, wishing that you could do something else, or thinking on that grocery list for after practice. Know that this is normal, and also a part of the egoic mind attempting to find entertainment. But yoga is what helps you to move away from entertainment and into a sense of calm and discipline or stability. Yoga is not a rigid discipline, but it is a discipline for the mind. The discipline is for the very part of the mind trying to make that grocery list. You can smile to yourself knowing the yoga practice is doing something if you notice the mind wandering. Then, just gently bring it back to the sensations in the body.
The connected poses can be called vinyasas. There are books which show some, there are videos which show some. You may have taken a class which included some. Perhaps the only vinyasa you know is the sun salutation. This is a fine place to start. But you can also play a little with other poses. Pick a few poses you are currently working on and see if you can string them together. It is okay to play in this way. See how you actually move between the poses to keep a sense of flowing or continue the action from the pose before into the next one. Imagine that the body is made of water (well, actually it is…) and that the drops of water each are creating a rhythm as they flow along a river, perhaps hitting stones or shore on the way. The body continues to move through whatever poses are in its path. Take your time. Let yourself feel each of the movements as much as possible. Allow the practice to teach you how to do it. It is natural for the body to move in this way if you are human. And you are human. Don’t worry about how it looks, just stay with how it feels and allow the movements to smooth out more and more as you continue.
Follow your practice with some relaxation by resting on the floor for a couple of minutes. Then rest sitting up in meditation. You have a nice beginning of a personal practice there.
Yoga Pose of the Day: Sun Salutation
Yogic Concept of the Day: Allow the rhythm of the movement to bring the attention within. Let me notice what I feel.
