YOGA
(raga), Aversion to pain
(dvesa) and Fear of
Death (abhinivesah) encapsulate the multitude
of ways in which we tend
to suffer.
Thankfully, the Yoga
Sutras offer us several
paths to help us attain
freedom from our suffering. The practice of yoga
postures (asana) is one
such path. Yoga practice
guides us to open our
mind, body and spirit and
pay close attention to
the ways in which we suffer. The inward focussed
attention we experience
when we practice yoga
allows us to see that there
is a space between what
we experience, think or
feel and how we choose
to respond to it. As Viktor
E. Frankl wrote, “Between
stimulus and response
there is a space. In that
space is our power to
choose our response.
In our response lies our
growth and our freedom.” As we continue to
practice and become
familiar with the space
between ‘stimulus and
response’ we realise that
in each moment, both
on and off the mat, we
are given the freedom to
consciously choose our
response to our suffering and our joy. And that
freedom, if we choose,
invites us to lean in to the
entirety of our human experience – the dark and
the light. It allows us the
freedom to be with what
is and to move through it,
allowing it to change us
and shape us into more
compassionate, kind and
loving, whole beings.
Personally, I find that it is
my yoga practice that
continually liberates me
from fear and suffering
and provides me with
the space to investigate
my experience, and the
freedom to consciously
choose my response. As
I move through my practice and breathe into my
body, I release the places that have been constricted by my mind – the
places that have been
bent and molded by
mental, emotional and
physical fear, by a literal
lack of freedom. With
each exhale I calm my
body and relax my mind.
And then miraculously, as
my body and mind settle
into stillness, I find that I
am able to allow whatever is present - even the
fear itself - be there without judgement.
Remarkably as we cultivate our ability to befriend and investigate our
afflictions, we find that
we can slowly and lovingly release ourselves
from their grip. When we
give ourselves the necessary time and space to
practice - the patience,
kindness and compassion to be with whatever
arises, and the ability
to choose how to meet
it – we are awarded the
freedom to embrace our
whole selves. And it is
embracing our wholeness
- light and dark, joys and
sorrows - that offers us the
greatest freedom of all:
the freedom to be fully
ourselves.
Kristin Tait is is an early 30s Yoga gal with a passion for community and yoga
Crystal Ellis a registered holistic nutritionist, a registered Phoenix Rising
teacher, and a certified exercise physiologist. Currently she is studying to in a
continuous learning. She can always be found with her head in a book,
become an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant. on herisblog or Twitter. Withdeep
silly yoga pose, or sharing her musings over Kristin a student of life, a a fiery
soul diver, ashe constantly strives to motivate others to see their greatness,
personality seeker of truth. Her greatest passions are natural health and
healing, yoga, all things culinary and creative, and assisting both herself at
while always making sure to laugh at herself. Follow along on her journey
and others in their quest to liveon healthy, authentic, and inspired life.
yogicrystal.wordpress.com or a Twitter at @YogiCrystal.