Acceptance arises when we are free from craving. (1:15)
Supreme acceptance leads to understanding our true self and occurs when we allow for the changing nature of life. (1:16) Gosh, these two Sutras hit home for me. Vairagya translates to dispassion. The word, dispassion, sounds kind of ugly. No one wants to be dispassionate. However, what it means before translation is more like acceptance or non-attachment. Not getting hung up on could have beens, or cravings. Cravings can come in many different forms. When practicing Vairagya, we are not craving physically, mentally, or emotionally. We are not craving for food, drink, sex, clothing, any other material needs or pleasures. We are not wanting things to be different than they are right now. What we are and where we are right now is enough. When we can accept where we are, right now, we are not drawn into the ever-changing world around us that creates an abyss of want, need, and never enough. There are three types of energies. One is very energetic and dynamic. The second is heavy. The third is balanced and harmonious. When we let go of expectations and live mindfully in the present moment, accepting who we are and where we are, we have balance and harmony. Our body, mind, and soul are open to the present moment and we can fully take in and appreciate what life is giving. You may or may not know that I have arthritis in my left hip and both knees. The journey I have been on since my diagnosis has been tremendous. Living these Sutras has been invaluable to me. Accepting where I am in life, with my degenerative condition, as well as where I am each day, helps me to keep going. Living with arthritis means that some days I feel great and some days my joints lock up and I am stiff and hurting. Not getting upset or angry when that happens has made a huge impact on how long I stay in pain. Knowing that this condition ebbs and flows has given me an opportunity to live mindfully and accept where I am. It has also driven me to learn more about therapeutic applications of yoga in order to help others achieve this peaceful and balanced way to approach this chronic condition. I don't feel sorry for myself. I don't wish my body was different, stronger, or that my joints were healthier. I am grateful for what I am able to do each and every day that I wake. I keep God as my focus in the center of everything and I accept that each day will be different. I honor my body with more gentle exercise, restorative postures, or even rest when needed. And, I feel wonderful that I am able to give myself these gifts. I went down a bit of a rabbit trail, but I told you, this one hit home for me! I will leave you with a quote that I shared in class just this morning. It fits beautifully. It is a beautiful experience being with ourselves at a level of complete acceptance. When that begins to happen, when you give up resistance and needing to be perfect, a peace will come over you as you have never known. ~ Ruth Fishel Reflection and Journal Activity 1) When do you feel balanced and in harmony? 2) What are the obstacles you face in accepting where you are?
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Sorry friends. Life has gotten busy and posting my blog had to take a back seat for a short bit. But, I'm back. Hope you are all still with me!
The mind's fluctuations are stilled through practice and acceptance. (1:12) Practice is the effort to the steady mind. (1:13) The mind easily becomes steady when practice is consistent, sustained, and sincere.(1:14) Sutra 1:12 is about setting your intentions. Intentions are something I bring up in every class I teach. These are so different from goals. Goals are end products. Something we strive to achieve. Intentions are actions steps that you will take on your journey. Intention is not the end product, it may get you to the end product, but it is more about the journey. So, when we hyper-focus on the "goal", we miss the small steps, the journey that we travel. When we quiet the mind, focus on our intention for today, we can enjoy the journey and not worry so much about the results. So, how do we practice so that we can steady the mind? A consistent practice is the beginning. Committing to be on your mat every day, for some aspect of yoga, is how you build a consistent practice. This can be through asana (physical poses), pranayama (breath work), or dhyana (meditation). You can begin your day with some meditation and breathing, even before you get out of bed. Even a few restorative poses in your bed or next to your bed while you are practicing breath work can be invigorating. Being mindful throughout your day and finding pockets of time to just be. These are a few examples of how to begin a consistent, daily practice. However, if you are just going through motions, and there is no joy or passion in your choices, then you are not living these sutras. Yes, you want to steady the mind. But, the mind will not steady without passion and joy in the practice. Dig deep. Find what bring you passion, what stills your mind, what fills your soul. Do this. Reflection and Journal Activities 1) List 3-5 life goals that you are working on. What are you doing to achieve these goals? (your intention) What are the results you are hoping for? (end product) How attached are you to the results? 2) Define what joy and passion mean to you. Look at your list of 3-5 goals and the specific things you are doing to meet them. Is the effort you are putting in bringing you joy? Does it feel like a habit or an obligation? Absence of reality also arises from deep sleep without thought, dreams, or other movements of the mind. (1:10)
Memory is a previous experience that hasn't been forgotten. (1:11) The absence of awareness, thoughts, dreams, and movements of the mind are what we find in deep sleep. This is a necessity for all. It restores us and supports a steady mind. During deep sleep, the mind is blank. This is our natural, steady mind. Because we are sleeping deeply, we don't remember the steadiness of our mind, however, because we know this occurs during deep sleep, we know that the mind is capable of this steady state. Our memories grow as each day goes by. They grow into our future thoughts and actions. Our memories shape our tomorrows. They can inspire us to be loving, kind, and thoughtful, or when a layer of judgement is added to the memory, it can trigger unkind, hurtful thoughts and actions. Striving towards a steady mind while we are awake, and being aware of how our memories shape our future can bring a sense of peace inside of us. When we begin to realize the impact our mind has on every detail of our life, and how we are able to let go of attachments that hold us back, we can begin to reach for this steady, peaceful state of being. Reflection and Journal Activity 1) Each day, after you wake, spend a few moments writing whatever is in your mind. It can be a list, pictures, ideas, etc. Notice any patterns. 2) Describe 3 of your clearest memories. How would you describe them? How has each shaped you? 3) Read through all of your journal entries so far. Do you see any recurring words, feelings, thoughts, etc? Are any of these limiting you or holding you back? Which support, encourage, or inspire you? False knowledge comes from misperception. (1:8)
Misperception is conceptualizing or imagining some thing without any substance or reality as the basis. (1:9) Misperception occurs when we are looking through a clouded lens. This lens can be clouded with misinformation and/or assumptions. This is the opposite of right knowledge. When our perception and our reality don't match, we find hurt and disappointment. For example, a friend cancels plans with you. You wonder what happened and why she is mad at you. (She is overloaded, burned out, and has been putting in long hours at work with little relief.) Your boss is distant and carries a look of concern, yet doesn't say much. You wonder if the company is in trouble, if you are going to be losing your job. (Your boss has an ill family member and it is weighing heavily on his/her.) Your partner quickly closes their phone/computer when you enter the room. You feel angry, wondering what your partner was doing, thinking the worst. (Your partner is planning a surprise for you or shopping for a special gift for you.) When we are able to clear away misperception, we can avoid unnecessary hurt and disappointment. We can avoid suffering. We can move forward in a positive, healthy, and hopeful way. Another lens of misperception is when we visualize or imagine something without any reality to back it up. Daydreaming and imagining situations is a great creative release. They can even inspire us to work toward goals. However, when our imagination distracts us, it can set us up for disappointment and suffering. This filter we use can be very harmful. For example, when we are heading home to visit family, we often will envision the perfect family holiday or weekend. Normal Rockwell like, picturesque. When we arrive, toddlers are running or crying, food is burning in the over, the heater breaks down, someones car runs out of gas, the favorite dessert was unavailable, etc...... Our filter in our mind created an impossible image that would never be acquired. When reality hit, we suffer and become disappointed, angry, and frustrated. If we keep this filter clear, and let go of imagining the picture perfect weekend; if we accept that seeing our family is most important and the rest will not make or break the weekend, we will find joy, peace, and hope amidst the chaos. We will appreciate the moments instead of being disappointed by the weekend. Reflection and Journal Activity 1) Finish this sentence: I wish other knew ...... (this about me). 2) Think about the last week. Make a list of any time you found yourself daydreaming, visualizing, or forecasting. Record these images in your journal. Now, look at your list. Which of these keep you open to possibilities? Which of these stifle you? Can you see the opposite perspective in each one? (For example: "Some day, I want to live in France." This could encourage you to take language lesson and learn about French culture. OR, this could make you frustrated and depressed if you can only focus on the fact that you do not live in France. Week 2 - Journey through JournalingThere are five changing states of the mind and they are either detrimental or not. (1:5)
They are correct knowledge, misperception, imagination, sleep, and memory. (1:6) The source of right knowledge is built on clear sense perception, logic, and verbal communication. (1:7) Everything inside our body is made up of two facets - our potential and how that potential is expressed. Every one of us has unlimited potential, but each of us has a unique way of expressing this. Take electricity for example. We may all have electricity running through us, but we may express it differently. One of us may be a lamp, while someone else may be a computer. We have the same electricity, just expressed differently. Often, what hinders us is in reaching our full potential is how we see things, our lenses, or perspective. The filters in our mind change and alter our reality. Even when the filters enhance the mind or the mood, they obscure the truth in that moment. Often, we are so used to seeing things through our minds filters, that when we remove a filter, we don't quite believe what we see. Noticing our filters is the first part of our practice. As we identify our filters, we can recognize reactions, where they stem from, and how they are holding us back. When we see things through a clear lens and accurately perceive the situation, we have correct or right knowledge. There are three ways to reach right knowledge: sense perception, logic, and verbal communication. When we think of a situation such as a rain storm, it seems simple to use these three tools. We see the rain, we feel the wetness on our skin, and we use logic when we look out the window and see the pavement wet. However, when we apply this to all situations in our life, it is not so cut and dry because we are used to seeing other situations through different lenses. Reflection and Journal Activity 1) Go back to your list from last week. Circle all the descriptors that are unchanging or unchangeable. How do you feel about these? For example, I am the youngest in my family and it makes be feel sad that no one takes me seriously. Now, go back and highlight any positive descriptors in one color and negative descriptors in another color. Are there things you would like to change that are changeable? 2) Choose someone you trust and who knows you well. Ask them to set a timer for 5 minutes and write as many words as they can think of to describe you. What surprises you? What makes you feel good? Are there any you don't agree with? Now, compare your list and their list and note all the descriptors you have in common. What do you notice? Share your reflections in the comments if you would like to, or feel free to send me a private message. Thanks for participating and learning more about yourself through this journey! -Namaste, Erin Join me in learning more about yourself, how you relate to the world around you, and how the principles of yoga can help you find balance, meaning, and peace. I will be using the book, Living the Sutras by Kelly Dinardo and Amy Pearce-Hayden, as well as resources from my personal training courses and study. You do not need to purchase the book to participate in this journey, however, you are welcome to if you want to dig a little deeper.
You will need a journal. This could be as simple as a notebook. Also, get yourself some fun, colorful pens. Commit to participating in this journal journey each week. I will post new prompts each weekend. You are welcome to share your thoughts right here, on this blog, as well as in your personal journal. I am looking forward to this journey with you. Thank you for joining me! Week 1 "Yoga is the mastery of the mind's fluctuations." (1:2) "When the mind is steady and calm, we know our true nature." (1:3) Our true self is who we are beyond all of the roles we fulfill, all of the hats we wear, and all of the labels we have. Our true nature is express by our core beliefs, values, and passions. When we know and express our true self, we experience peace and clarity. The Yoga Sutras begin by defining yoga as mastery over the multitude of thoughts and fluctuations of the mind. When our thoughts are jumping from one place to another, we don't have peace. Our words and actions follow our mind. We are scattered. When we quiet the mind, we can be truly attentive to our lives, connect with who we really are, find our purpose, and feel peace. Journal Activity Set a timer for 5 minutes and list as many words as you can think of that define you and describe you. Feel free to share thoughts below, message me directly, or ask any questions. -Namaste, Erin One year ago, I could not put on my shoes while standing. I could not tie my shoes while sitting on a chair. I could not sit on the floor with my toddler, and if I did, I had difficulty getting up. After some x-rays and an ortho appointment, I learned that I have arthritis of my left hip and right knee, (with the left knee not too far behind). My ortho told me he recommends physical therapy. Depending on how I responded to the therapy would determine next steps. He told me if I did not respond to the physical therapy, I could be looking at a hip replacement in as early as one year. I was devastated. I was 44 with a 2 year old, an 11 year old, and a 17 year old. I had plans. I had things I wanted to do, both now and in the future. I imagined I would never hike again, never travel to some of the places on my wish list, never do yoga again. I imagined having a hip replacement surgery while I still had a very young child at home. I felt awful.
I chose a physical therapist that I had heard about through my chiropractor. She told me that he works with athletes and he really figures out what is going on. I had been to physical therapists before and I had not ever had much luck for long term change. I made an appointment with Justin Dimitt at South River Rehab & Performance. At our first appointment he asked me what my goals were. I told him I would like to be able play on the floor with my daughter and also tie my shoes. (Can you believe that?) I also mentioned that I would really like to not have surgery for a long while. He told me that if I listened to him and did as he instructed, I would not be having surgery in a year or any time soon. He also told me my hips are uneven, out of alignment. (I knew this from other physical therapists and I told him that I knew already.) He said we were going to fix it. I was confused, because I didn't think you could fix that. He assured me that we could fix it. I went through physical therapy for about 6 weeks. I did my homework and followed all of Justin's instructions. After the 6 weeks, he told me I did not need therapy anymore, but I should continue coming to the gym for maintenance. He created a personalized strength and conditioning program for me and he updates it when needed. I have been continuing with gym maintenance since July, going to the gym 3 times a week. The first few months were not all smooth. I would be going strong for a few weeks, then fall back into pain or stiffness. We would back off the full workout, modify, and ease back in, adding a few therapeutic stretches into the routine. While I was making good progress, it was still very frustrating to fall back every few weeks. However, I reminded myself that I was still tying my shoes. I was still able to play on the floor with my daughter. So, I was still ahead of the game. This past fall, I decided to do some research on nutrition and arthritis. I found that many foods cause inflammation of the joints. From my research, a Mediterranean style of eating was worth a try for me and our family. It seemed to have numerous health benefits, not just for inflammation. It was heart healthy, whole foods based, and natural. We made the switch. Not 100%, but a huge change. Within just a couple of weeks of eating this way, combined with my exercise, my pain was gone. I started losing weight, which wasn't even my goal. I realized that for every pound I did lose, that is 4 pounds of pressure off of my knees and 6 pounds of pressure off of my hips. WOW! Needless to say, I started feeling stronger, having more energy, and my pain was not cycling back like it had been. Then, our family went away for Christmas. Up to this point, any time we had traveled, I packed hand weights, bands, everything that I would need to do my workouts while I was away. However, this time, we were going to Disney. I didn't want to lug the extra weights and equipment. I decided I would try yoga. All I needed was my mat. If my hip could tolerate it, it would be a glorious full body workout. Well, it was fantastic! So much so that I started incorporating it into my at home workouts when we returned. I was so happy to be back to yoga again! I am sharing this with you all to show you that you can do anything you set your mind to. You can move mountains with a tiny bit of faith and a lot of hard work. If I inspire just one person with this story to try again, to not give up, to state your goals and reach them, then set new ones and reach those, then do it again, then sharing this very personal part of me will be worth it. Don't tell me you can't do yoga. Don't tell me you can't exercise. Tell me what's holding you back and let me help you set your goals and reach them. You can do anything you set your mind to. And that hip surgery? That is on the back burner now for many years. Thank you, Justin, for guiding me, pushing me, believing in me, and getting me back on track when I stumbled. Thank you to my husband, Pat for supporting me, encouraging me, and telling me not to give up. Also, for reminding me that whatever happens, I will be ok. |
Erin CuomoWife, Mom, Teacher, Yoga Instructor, Christian Archives
July 2020
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