Derived from the word muc – “to free,” moksha traditionally means that one realizes the truth of ones nature, and the divine within ones self and hence becomes free from the cycle of death and rebirth. In some circles this is seen as truly about actual death and rebirth, and in other groups this is seen metaphorically, and can even refer to the experiences within ones single life. The path to liberation, or freedom can be approached in different ways. Meditation, devotion (Bhakti), the practice of karma yoga (service), or the practice of yoga itself can each lead one to come to understand ones true nature.

The other three aspects of purusartha are meant to provide the person with the ability to look at ones own nature more clearly. Self-realization is set as the main goal of living life, and pursuit of understanding what one is is encouraged as a discipline of high value according to yoga. Looking within and seeing what you find for yourself can truly be a rewarding experience.

The practice for today would include meditation and perhaps some balance poses to support this going within and seeing what you find out about your own true nature. See what it is that arises, whether it is stress, fear, planning, or happiness, and just watch to see as each experience fades what arises as constant, steady about what you are.

Another way to use to today to practice moksha would be to take some time and break free from the usual routine. Stop by a co-worker’s desk or a neighbor’s house and tell a joke, have a little fun. You can take some time and just be free of your idea of what your roles and obligations are. Relax. Have a little fun and spend a little more time doing something meaningful to you, and even sharing that with someone else. See if you can go to the store and have a good time with it. Rather than merely playing the role of “person buying something.” see if you can make 5 people smile. Notice if they are able to play along and how much gratitude and enjoyment can arise within you as you witness them being free and playful, too. Everyone needs moments of joy as well as moments of seriousness. See what you can do to make your moment more than just adhering to the roles and rules.

This weekend, you may want to take time to practice some aspect of each of the 4 purusartha, to see how it feels to live this way.

I hope you have an easeful, peaceful and useful weekend!

Yoga Pose of the Day: Fish Pose – Matsyasana

Yogic Concept of the Day: What am I?

by: Robert Radford

The third part of the purusartha, or aspects of life that are necessary in order to feel fulfillment, is called kama. It literally means worldly pleasures and refers to whatever it is that is desired. It can be wealth, fame, and pleasures of having extra chocolate, sexual enjoyment, or really anything else as far as pleasure is concerned.

You may be wondering how this is different from yesterday’s concept of artha, which was material wealth. It is important to care both for the material needs of yourself and the family (artha) and to have a sense of gaining pleasure from them (kama). It is not considered helpful to suppress the desires, but rather to allow yourself to seek healthy and meaningful sources of pleasure, rather than those that would bring harm. In order to gain satisfaction in life, it is considered helpful to find contentment (santosha) and even joy in what we experience as we are able.

Perhaps one aspect of this could be taking time to allow ourselves to be more aware of what it is we desire in life, truly. Then we can find ways to work towards this while honoring those in our care and our relationship to all those who would be involved. Also, kama could mean taking your time to really be where you are, wake up to your life in each moment. In other words, you may take on a practice of santosha (contentment) and allow yourself to “take time to smell the roses” and enjoy what is already in front of you. Taking an extra moment to walk around the block instead of watching commercials, placing a garnish on the dinner plates for your family, and preparing potpourri for your linen closet could all be considered kama. Working toward getting pleasure from what is already in front of you can be a beautiful way to focus your attention and bring out some creativity and joy in yourself as well as those around you.

Today, you might take a little time and pick some things you do each week that do not necessarily bring pleasure, then you can think of ways to increase the amount of joy you may feel while accomplishing those tasks. Perhaps you want to play music while you do the dishes, or place a few candles in the bathroom. Who knows what you might come up with? The point is to spend a little time seeing how you might better enjoy what is already in your life.

Yoga Pose of the Day: Hand to Big Toe Pose – Utthita Hasta Padangustasana

Yogic Concept of the Day: How can I take a moment to make this experience a little more enjoyable? Can I pay attention or give a little more effort?

by: posterize

The next of the four purusartha, or aims in life, in yoga is called artha. This can be translated as wealth. This is considered to be an important part of living in the world. It is necessary to care for oneself physically and to be able to amass some physical gains in order for ourselves and those around us to be able to live with less suffering and to have the necessary things such as food, health care, and enjoy some of the pleasures of physical life.

Working for fame and doing what is necessary to have autonomy in ones country and on ones land are also considered a part of this pursuit. It may be strange to consider that such worldly pursuits are a part of what is considered fulfilling in life according to yoga. But gaining fame and fortune are a natural part of being a person, and can be used toward the service of others. Yoga is about finding a way to have a joyful, easeful and useful life (as Swami Satchidananda always said). It is hard to have these when we are poor or otherwise suffering. In order to care for our lives in a healthy way, and to help those in our family or others near to us, having a physical and social level of well-being established is helpful and even good. It is how this is used, to provide for well-being, that can be a good guide on this path.

by: vichie81

Another part of the picture to consider is that money is something that should circulate. It is good to keep it flowing into your own pocket as well as to that of others, to keep it working for the benefit of others. It is like the flow of prana, or life force. It should be coming in and going out. If you notice there is a block in the flow, seeing what can be done to get it moving again is helpful, just like with our digestive system, or a natural spring in your yard. We can clear away whatever seems to be holding it up. Perhaps if the inflow is blocked by a lack of work or other financial concerns, doing something to give can be helpful. Volunteering can lead to a job, offering to help someone can help you to lay the social network which helps you get connections in a new office.

As you look at your own life today, consider what you may be able to do to use what money, physical abilities, and social standing you have to support your family and others. You may also consider what you can do to improve your own life concerning artha. Providing others with work, pursuing a better paid job, or contributing to a 401K, and giving to charity can all be considered a part of artha.

Yoga Pose of the Day: Warrior II

Yogic Concept of the Day: It is just fine for me to pursue physical comforts and support my family and others in the process.

by: graur razvan ionut

This week we are studying the four basic paths for having a virtuous life. To be clear, in the yogic concept, all four paths should be followed, though one may be an area of particular concern, interest, or otherwise be a main focus for you at this time. Of course, throughout our lives, which area is a main focus will naturally change. However, to have a stable life in which a person is able to give of themselves what they can, and also to gain a sense of purpose, each of these areas should be cared for and developed appropriately.

The first of these areas is called dharma. Dharma can be literally translated as righteousness. Of course this means caring for the spiritual practice which you follow in the best way you know how.  It can also mean living rightly, refraining from harming oneself or others, and generally following the path that is true to your nature. Doing good deeds, practicing selflessness, and generally being helpful to others is a good guideline. If you need to go to school in order to offer your skills as a kind person through work as a social worker or doctor, then going to school would be a part of following your dharma, as well.

Today, you may want to take some time to think of ways that you may be able to honor your nature in a way that is supportive to others. It could be that you are a painter and would be able to donate some of your work to a local hospital for the waiting room outside surgery. Perhaps you sing, and could offer your skills at a nursing home. Maybe you are a great cook, and could offer to head up a food-based fundraiser for the local kids softball team or fire department. Maybe you are just good at lending a hand and can contact the local Red Cross and see what they need. How can you offer some service? You don’t need to promise 20 hours a week somewhere to be helpful. Sometimes all it takes is one day a week for a couple of hours. And maybe just asking around, you could find something that would be enjoyable.

By the way, if you have no idea what types of skills and talents may be of worth, sharing your time is a great way to find out!

After you have thought of what you may be able to offer your community in the way of time, talent, and effort, see if you can go ahead and take the first step.  Make a phone call, or show up to ask questions, and try to sign up for something. Remember that it is okay to say you only have a couple of hours a month. Just remember that using your talents to be of support to others has rewards you may not have considered. What you do can be a joy, to yourself and others.

This service contributes to a sense of purpose, a feeling of belonging, and a deeper connection to the heartbeat of our town. When you allow your life to weave into the life of your town, a new type of connection occurs, and this can be truly satisfying.

Yoga Pose of the Day: Boat Pose: Navasana

Yogic Concept of the Day: How can I be of service using my talents?

As you come to think of what matters to you, those around you, and what could bring fulfillment, write down four major areas for growth and development. You may surprised at how universal the ideal life pursuits are.

Now, it is possible, when thinking about this, that you may be considering what types of experiences may make you happy. But, be careful. I have found that perhaps we are not as good at choosing what may make us happy as we thought. To support your thinking about what would make a life worthwhile, I figured I could share this video (21 minutes) from Dan Gilbert’s TED Talk. See what you think.

If making decisions about what holds value for us can fundamentally change what we find to be important, it may be helpful to think about what is inherently worthwhile to pursue. Gilbert seems to be saying it is helpful to make a decision and then stick with that, not to keep going back an forth between options. Making choices can allow us to move on and experience more joy. It may be useful to find “the standards”  which most/all people ascribe value to in life. Do you think you share these with others?

Yogic Pose of the Day: Tree Pose

Yogic Concept of the Day: What are the four possible types of goals in life?

I think we had a blast!

We used the kazoos as an introduction to a new form of pranayama (breath work): Brahmari – or humming breath. I encouraged people to look into the connection between play, and practice. As play opens up our hearts, so can this humming breath – allowing a sense of ease to come in as we prepare for savasana and meditation.

As you watch this short video, notice how much breath control must actually have to be applied in order to get the quick staccato and the articulation of the tied 16th notes he is playing on a kazoo. Seriously.

What happens to our minds and bodies when we attempt things that are completely silly? I’ll tell you, thinking about all of this, and the jy we had in class yesterday, is really a great invitation to bring a sense of play as we come to the weekend.

Thanks for sharing some joy with me!

Yogic Pose of the Day: Brahmari – Bee Breath

Yogic Concept of the Day: I can play some more this weekend. It enriches my body and mind to have playful intention.

by: nuchylee

A few weeks ago, we looked at the niyamas or observances in yoga. One of these was called svadyaya – self-study. As we have been exploring play, I want to help us to integrate this practice a little further. My guess is that as you work with yoga, you are hoping to integrate the mind, body and spirit in new ways. However, in our culture, we tend to spend more time in the mind (with our thoughts) and can tend to have trouble integrating what is happening with the body and spirit as we practice yoga.  Today we can look a little more at how our minds work while we continue to take time to play each day. Get out and see the sun shine. You will be able to learn more about how your own mind is oriented and how to integrate your new findings  into experiencing more depth and benefit from your yoga practice both on and off the mat.

Today I want to encourage you to look at your own learning orientation. When we know more about our learning styles and our prominent intelligences, we can integrate the types of activities into our day in a way that will bring us more joy. Really that is the point of yoga, to have a peaceful mind that can flow easily with whatever arises.

Most people have a variety of factors affecting their learning orientation and it is common to find two styles that are more prominent than others in one person. I am providing some links to pages that offer free learning styles quizzes so you can look more objectively at what may be your own primary and secondary learning styles.

Learning Styles Inventory: Quick, based on three key styles.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm

Index of Learning Styles: Quick to take, takes more time to look at assessment and understand, but shows within ranges/scaling rather than just giving an answer.

http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html

Multiple Intelligences: Gives a Quick Grid based on 8 Forms of Intelligence

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/questions/choose_lang.cfm

The learning styles are ways that you receive information best. Some of the quizzes provide information in the assessment about what types of situations may allow you to learn new skills and information in ways that you can more easily digest. But this is not the whole of who you are, and it is not the whole of how you engage in learning. We often think that in classes, when we are the students, that we could receive the information from someone (the teacher) and then we are done. You come to yoga class, participate, and go home feeling great. You enjoy a restful sleep and the benefits from having done the practice. What the mind sees should not limit what you think is possible. The mind is only one of the tools you bring with you to this life.

Remember that these quizzes should not cause you stress, but be another playful way to study the self and integrate what you find so you can experience ease. Look at the mind a little and then do some yoga. Go play a while. Get out of the head. My intention here is not to get you to think about play, but to try doing it.

You may wish to take the time to write to me in the comments about what you found. I would love to hear what you discover and how you integrate that into plans for vacation, a trip to the park, a new game you are creating, or any other way in which you pick up a sense of playfulness.

Yoga Pose of the Day: Camel Pose:

Yogic Concept of the Day: I can integrate what I learn into my play or enjoyment. What my mind finds out about me is not the whole of who I am, it is just one more piece.

I think they were having a blast with the pool and the swing set and everything. The combination of calm, an absolute sense of belonging and playfulness never fails to come clear when watching bears.

But we don’t even really need props to play. I mean, yoga practice may be to us, what a simple swim is to these otters!

We are not so different. Really, just take yourself outside and see what you do. A part of your nature will show itself, if you will simply let yourself play, and then observe what it was like (svadyaya).

Yoga Pose of the Day: Upright Seated Pose – otherwise known as Bear pose

Yogic Concept of the Day: Get outside and play, even for 10 minutes.

Bear Pose

Did you ever see that movie with Maggie Gyllenhall and Will Farrell, Stranger Than Fiction? There is a fantastic scene in there that demonstrates what I am going to suggest you consider today.

If you decided not to watch it, Maggie’s character, Ana Pascal describes how she was going to Harvard Law School, but somehow her love of cooking for the study groups brought her true talent to the foreground of her life, leaving her with a D average and a clue as to how she was going to change the world. These types of accidents happen so commonly, I imagine you could tell me a tale or two about someone who “fell into” a new role that was so clearly them, even the way they did other things dripped with the signs of their gift. We all are like that. Did you know it?

I know a lot of artists, and I haven’t asked them permission to share their tales of finding their form of art, or I might recount them here, but many went through a variety of modalities before finding their personal niche. I have known a few physicists, too, and they are incredibly similar in how they were just bursting with curiosity and the desire to find the right application of that intensity. It can take a few tries to find what play works for us. 

So okay – you are on the path, albeit loosely. How does sharing come in? Share your play with others. If you are exploring cooking, cook with or for others. Hold a recipe swap at your next potluck! Make it so it is not about you, but you get to see how you play with others. Because, we know that the fruits of our work cannot be for ourselves. We derive so much more joy from the sharing.

What about the sciences? Volunteer at a science museum, or for the science classes at a nearby school. Get a telescope and invite nieces and nephews over for a meteor shower. If you are working with the math, come help me! Just kidding – offer to work at the local tax support hub in the new year or look for aid agencies that may need math support for children or adults in the area. Honestly, math tutors are really needed. See how you do with doing math together.

What about other seemingly solitary interests like writing and singing? I think I have known many writers who felt it was sharing to go write at the coffee shop. Actually, when I was waitressing, there were several writers who would come to write. I tried to leave them to it. Knowing how important not breaking a thought is. There were a couple who felt I should stop working to sit and read manuscripts or listen to them read to me. That, honestly, was sort of rude, because it made me a captive at work instead of letting me share in the gift. No – I think writer workshops and literary groups are something that serve that purpose better. You may have special friends whose nature is also writing and who may be able to start such a group with you.  But writing someone a story for a birthday, or gifting the family with the family story is something altogether different. It is a truly unique and appreciated gift.  It still seems solitary in nature, but that is really the nature of this talent.

For some people, the talent or gift is so subtle or groundbreaking that they cannot have a clue unless they see themselves in groups. If you are still wondering what it is that you possibly have to offer – throw a party. Or create a gathering somewhere. Start taking time to visit places you’ve never ventured before and push yourself to meet 5 people on your trip. I am not necessarily talking about going to a new city, but to a store you would normally never enter. You may have to do these things often to get any real clues, but the group of people you meet will tell you something. If you are shy, this can be particularly difficult. But what you do, more so – how you do it – will tell you something about what you offer. Take pictures on your trips (okay, not in the stores, but…) create collages. Invite friends over to tea to tell them about your adventures and solicit feedback about what rhythms and repeating patterns they see. Take them with you.

All of these things are sharing. Sharing your experience of life – but also sharing how you experience life with others. This richness is what makes us all sit up in our chairs and listen when you share your tale, your talent, and your story.

Yoga Pose of the Day: Garudasana – Eagle Pose

Yogic Concept of the Day: I share my play with others.

By: Vlado

I want you to think for a moment of an early memory, whatever time you end up in, when you admired something someone else was doing and thought things like ” I wonder what that’s like,” or ” I could never do that, but I bet it’s fun.” Can you remember a favorite game in second grade, or the way that you waited in rooms by yourself as a child? I waited in rooms alone by dancing. Music or no, in my head I was a ballerina. My favorite games were unique games held in trees and that one where they play music so you dance, and freeze when the music stops. These have all been clues to finding my talents and special ways I can connect with others.

How we play holds clues to our gifts and talents. How we played as a child holds clues to where we began with our abilities and interests.

As you are reminiscing, take some notes about what you remember and why you were drawn to those things. In some ways, the “why” is more important than the “what.” If you think it is lost information, think back to favorite movies or songs and then the games you played with others. The information may come from there.

Take some time today, and the next day, and maybe each day for the next week to just play. Try on some of the types of experiences you used to enjoy or be curious about. Yes, I am talking about dancing with yourself. Or painting, drawing, or picking up that instrument you haven’t looked at since middle or high school. Maybe you need to go tinker with some woodworking, or start a garden… whatever comes, try to do something each day this week.

You could spend your shower singing more than washing. Buy some cheap tempra paints to use while waiting at home. Dedicate time ( I suggest an hour, but it can be whatever works for you) each day for the next week to really goofing off. It is not serious, it is play. Attempt to recapture the feelings of a child during this special time. If you are not having fun, change the game. Do whatever else you remember, or what comes to mind. Allow unexpected trips to petting zoos and the of purchase chemistry sets.

So, how does this play become useful? You are already sensing it. That wonder is returning. Your creativity comes to you in waves as you recall special games, secret hiding places, mud pies, building a special ramp for your matchbox cars, and chosing materials for your fort in the woods. Perhaps you feel compelled to go camping this weekend, or find that old recipe for play-doh.

It has begun. There are no rules except that you show up for yourself as you would for your own child’s tea-time.

Some thing that is really important is already happening here. Tomorrow we will talk about what that is.

Yoga Pose of the Day: Child’s Pose

Yogic Concept of the Day: Any memory of childhood play remembered should be expressed somehow.