Sunday, October 11, 2009

Feeling The Whole Body

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “Embodying The Spirit.”

Feeling The Whole Body

A powerful but simple practice is to try to maintain presence in the body continuously throughout the day. Feel the body as a whole. The mind is worse than a crazed monkey, jumping from one thing to the next; it has a hard time focusing on one thing. But the body is a source of experience more stable and constant, and using it as an anchor for awareness will help the mind to grow calmer and more focused. Just as the participation of the mind is essential in organizing and nourishing the physical aspects of life, the mind needs the body in order to stabilize in calm presence, which is fundamentally important in all practices.

- Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

The homework is to explore the idea of one-pointed concentration and learn why many traditions consider this one of the key practices. Then consider how the practice of the physical postures (or asana) can help you cultivate the ability to “stabilize in calm presence” and to cultivate one-pointed concentration (or dharana).

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003

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