Life, yoga and other adventures

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Tuesday 19 January 2016

Are you willing and able to let go?

Are you ready to fly?
Book 1 of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali introduces vairagyam, non-attachment: 'The consciousness of self-mastery in one who is free from craving for objects seen or heard about is non-attachment.' This doesn't mean being disinterested, but rather it is acceptance of the philosophy that any practice without non-attachment is bound to fail.

I have been thinking about this in the context of my weekly classes. Am I too attached to my teaching methods? Am I reluctant to try something different or frightened to change gear in case my students leave? Am I doing them a disservice? More importantly, am I encouraging them to become attached to their practice and making it hard for them to find stillness of mind?

On a practical level, should I switch the class around so that they can't lie in 'their' spot? We're all creatures of habit, but unless we release those things we do on automatic pilot, is anything ever going to change?

2 comments:

  1. You know, it's an interesting thought. It's actually when I've entered writing contests without caring how I'll place that I do place. Is that strange? I think sometimes we get to caught up in a wish, enough that we hinder our overall success.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting, Crystal - and for reminding me that yoga philosophy isn't just for the mat.

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