“Thy right is to work only, but never with its fruits; let not the fruits of action be thy motive, nor let thy attachment be to inaction.
As the ignorant men/women act from attachment to action, so should the wise act without attachment,
wishing the welfare of the world.” ~The Bhagavad Gita~
Typically nothing makes me happier than trying to put into words the experiences surrounding my yoga practice, but the recent political events have shocked, appalled and silenced me. This has led me to ponder just how precious is taking time to just allow things to settle and be processed. I'm writing to question how we can make meaningful changes in the world while also respecting our own wisdom, intuition and inner pace that can't possibly reflect the pace at which the current events and news are moving.
Most of us are endlessly running around doing hundreds of things a day, including yoga! We're also constantly getting bombarded by information, mostly without even choosing it, such as through our phone's news feed or through social media. I believe in staying connected, informed and aware but is this overflow and the speed at which it is arriving healthy? And if we don't believe it is, what tips can we use to stay true to ourselves by staying healthy and balanced while contributing actively to making the world a better place which, is after all what a yogi should do: better our relationships to all beings through practices such as karma yoga, selfless action, the yoga of activism or action.
Karma Yoga is in fact one of the main 4 traditional paths to enlightenment. Selfless service is known to purify the heart by teaching you to act without thought of gain or reward. It is the path by which you detach yourself from the fruits of your actions and offer them to the universal spirit , in order to sublimate the ego. What B.K.S. Iyengar in Light on Yoga refers to as: "Be not affected by success of failure. This equipoise is called Yoga."
"Give up your selfishness, and you shall find peace; like water mingling with water,
you shall merge in absorption."
Sri Guru Granth Sahib
"Selfless giving is love in action. Initially you will feel that you should help in a certain way, with a certain result. Do your best, but don't be concerned with results; do it for the infinite."
Frederick Lenz
A political climate such as the one we are now facing can lead to ever more polarization between groups. The politics of hate, walls and violence is designed to antagonize people ever more in order to weaken and suppress the masses. So now more than ever we should all be pervaded by a spirit of inclusion and service, is that not what yoga teaches us? To yoke, to unite, to connect. There is no single meaningful definition of yoga in fact. In order to experience truth through yoga, we must study its classical definitions while using our mats, struggles and life events to test and re-test our understanding of them in order to attain -not merely knowledge- but wisdom. Since ultimately yoga has more than one path and is a holistic and faceted concept that can't be defined by simple words or a single definition.
"During difficult times like this, I’m feeling that the most important thing is our love for each other and remembering to express that and avoid the temptation to get caught in negative and aggressive thinking. Instead of polarizing, this is a chance to stay with the groundlessness. I’ve been meditating and getting in touch with a deep and profound sadness. It’s hard to stay with that much vulnerability but that’s what I’m doing. Groundlessness and tenderness and sadness have so much to teach us. I’m feeling that it’s a time to contact our hearts
and to reach out and help in anyway we can."
Pema Chödrön
"Yoga means “to yoke” or “to unite”—to know oneself as one with all that is. Yoga practices are a means to overcome avidya, the ignorance that distorts one’s perception of oneself and others. Using asana as a method to attain Self-realization or enlightenment means exploring the true, practical, physical meaning of the term asana as “our relationship to the Earth”—that is, to other humans, animals, plants, things, the planet itself and all of manifestation."
Sharon Gannon
If we truly wish to connect to our eternal Self while influencing society, we need to consider what yoga really is. Each definition of yoga reveals part of the depth of knowledge and experience that forms the yogic path, and our paths may differ but we are also tied by the same goal, the same thread. It is during these challenging moments that we are called upon to test our knowledge and to put our efforts into practice and it is here that Karma Yoga can come to our aid. Can we now more than ever stay united and look past the separations society wants us to focus on and listen 'with the ears of compassion' to the world's suffering? It should be less about the quantity of information we receive and more about the depth and quality of wisdom we can sift out from our interactions, actions and communal experiences. That is the true activism of yoga, less concern about arguing what we already know and believe in and more emphasis on discovering, remaining open in the face of difficulties and ultimately transforming, evolving ourselves to deepen our connection to ourselves that in due course will enrich all the relationships we have in our lives and allow us to stay healthy, connected and committed while serving humbly to create everlasting change.
“Change your nature” so that your humanitarian words and efforts become clearer, more persuasive, and more effective."
Beth Spindler
Like many of you, I live in Brooklyn, a place filled with diversity where the average person cares and strives to make a difference so I know many of you will be asking: but if I'm not always plugged in- at the dramatic pace in which terrifying events are moving- I may miss the next march or forget to attend a meeting? Yet if we are constantly absorbing all this very fearful information we may start noticing that we are also flooded by so many detrimental emotions and sensations, whether it be fatigue, mild depression, anger, frustration which in turn can lead us to feeling forgetful, disconnected and scattered and cause our performance to decrease. So I'll now offer a few tips for trying to keep a healthy balance between our commitment to our own rhythms and a practice that keeps us grounded, safe and connected on the inside while trying to participate actively on the outside. The challenging task of the karma yogi!
“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man/woman changes his/her own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him/her…We need not wait to see what others do.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Tips for the Karma Yogi:
Join a Meditation Group:
We've all heard of the benefits of seated meditation but we also all know the challenges we face when we try to meditate! In times like these I fully recommend finding a meditation center in your neighborhood that can help you start your practice with support and guidance. Guided meditation in the presence of other people makes the task more approachable and less intimidating. There are many centers and informal groups that meet regularly in Brooklyn and in most places so scout the web to find an option that suits you. The benefits of meditation are incredibly advantageous for processing emotions and fears while learning to remain calm, rooted and positive in the face of challenges.
"Meditation can help us embrace our worries, our fear, our anger; and that is very healing. We let our own
natural capacity of healing do the work."
Thich Nhat Hanh
Practice Restorative Yoga/ Yoga Nidra/ Savasana:
Even within the practice of asana we always have a choice! So whether you are drawn to a more dynamic or a slower pace regular practice I can't stress enough how important it is to integrate Yin styles of asana practice during these tumultuous times to preserve energy instead of just expending it. Practices such as Restorative Yoga are designed to heal our mind-body-soul connection which, ultimately will leave us strengthened, refreshed and more well equipped to deal with our lives and activism. The ‘Relaxation Response’ which, kicks in the parasympathetic nervous system during the practice of Restorative Yoga in particular has been proven to literally change our physiology. It is an incredible tool to decrease feelings of stress and lessen anxiety and mild depression. Layers and layers of muscular tension are also relieved during this practice that allows for more space and inner flexibility to be created. The array of different asanas we practice in Restorative each have specific health benefits and sequences can be created to target specific symptoms while providing an overall sense of more ease and relaxation. Come to class!
“Restorative poses cultivate the habit of attention. You learn to identify how and where you hold tension and consciously release it. You discover a clear space from which to make life choices. Through restorative poses you come into harmony with your body’s natural rhythms. Living by these rhythms is the key to good health.”
Judith Lasater
Practice Pranayama:
Breath and prana (life force) are intimately connected with the state of our mind. Learning to breathe more fully is a life-altering and empowering experience! There are also numerous health benefits to learning breathing techniques. You will notice, just by observation, that when you feel stressed, scared or worried your breath will tend to grow shallow- this is called chest breathing. Many of us breathe like this all the time. When we consciously deepen our breath and learn different exercises to lengthen and steady our breathing the mind is influenced and can slowly be calmed and altered by it. The two are intimately connected. Pranayama can literally change our outlook on life. Learning to breathe consciously and with awareness can be a valuable tool in helping to restore and balance mind, body and soul.
"The practice of ‘asanas‘ and ‘pranayama’ wards off disease and helps to maintain alertness."
Sivananda
"When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore, one should learn to control the breath."
Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Try aromatherapy:
We've all experienced being caught by a scent that has the power to instantly bring back an emotion or a memory but we don't always take seriously the health benefits different plant-based oils can have. Aromatherapy is a science and has the ability to reduce anxiety, ease depression, boost energy levels, speed up healing processes, aid sleep, strengthen the immune system, reduce pain, improve digestion, and increase circulation. So why not try and see what works for you... I personally use sandalwood oil on my wrists and occasionally breathe into my palms to feel more grounded during the daytime and dab my pillow with a blend of oils that include lavender, patchouli and sage oil at night to sleep more peacefully.
“Aromatherapy is more thoroughly defined as the skilled and controlled use of essential oils for physical and emotional health and well-being. Science is now confirming what has been known for centuries: essential oils have healing properties on both physical and emotional levels. Absorbed through the skin and via the olfactory-brain connection through inhalation,
they have been considered among the most therapeutic and rejuvenating
of all botanical extracts throughout the ages.”
Valerie Gennari Cooksley
Chant:
I'm a big supporter of chanting. Nothing can beat vibration to uplift our emotional body and open our hearts, even in the most gloomy of times. The biggest challenge during fearful times is remaining open in spite of them. We tend to shut down, escape or freeze. By learning to remain open we can truly evolve and experience life more fully, but in order to do so we have to first of all feel safe (hence I suggest grounding practice such as restorative yoga, pranayama and meditation) and secondly, we have to practice feeling safe while remaining open and chanting can be a fabulous technique for this. Vibration naturally opens us in the energetic sense. Again I suggest joining a chanting group or even just attending a weekly kirtan where you can join in or just listen depending on your preference. A room filled with positive vibration is made to move you and augment your boundaries and transform your frustrations, anger and pain.
“By vibrating in rhythm with the breath to a particular sound that is proportional to the creative sound, or sound current, one can expand one’s sensitivity to the entire spectrum of vibration. It is similar to striking a note on a stringed instrument. In other words, as you vibrate, the Universe vibrates with you.”
Yogi Bhajan
Walk in nature/ Get out of the city:
Being outside in nature is good for the mind and the spirit! Nothing like a little oxygen to get all those oppressive feelings out. So I've looked into other cultures for inspiration to build a more healthy relationship with nature in order to feel more rooted and uplifted.
The Norwegians have the lovely practice of Friluftsliv that translates as "free air life". This is the concept that being outside aids the human mind and spirit. It is a practice that can include different activities such as: sleeping outside, hiking, taking photographs or meditating, playing with a focus on exploring, learning from and appreciating nature. Similarly, the Japanese practice Shinrin-yoku that means "forest bathing". Catie Leary explains this as “the idea being that spending time in the forest and natural areas is good preventative medicine, since it lowers stress; this isn't just a nice idea — there's science behind it".
Whatever it is you decide to do I suggest periodically leaving the city altogether to really indulge in nature. To have the time to fully absorb the sounds, the quality of the air, the scents and the colors the natural world has to offer to heal us. Even just starting out by hugging a tree is actually very therapeutic and relaxing!
"We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet. We need to awaken ourselves. We need to practice mindfulness if we want to have a future, if we want to save
ourselves and the planet."
Thich Nhat Hanh
Make yourself a home sanctuary:
Although you may be spending more and more time out of the home to be more socially active, it is so important to have a safe and welcoming place to return to. Our homes are not only spaces, they are places that hold and support us, places where we return to recharge. So now more than ever keep a room or even just a corner of a room to really symbolize this warmth and safety. There are many ways to create a home sanctuary. Colors can be important (pastel colors, blues, violets and greens are known to have calming effects and reduce tension), you may want to include: symbols, objects, paintings, candles, a seating area or perhaps a plant. You could build a little shrine. Go online for inspiration as I strongly recommend creating a little haven that can welcome you when you return home to ensure a smooth transition from the outside world to the inside world.
"have a mind so quiet,
that you can hear doves whispering
as they rest their wings
in the rafters your silent sanctuary”
Kate Mullane Robertson
Eat calming foods:
As yogis we know that we literally are what we eat but let's not forget that our diets can even be tweaked to support us through different life events, seasons, emotions. This is just a list of foods I discovered that have a calming effect on the mind/ body. I suggest documenting yourself further to see what is most suitable for you and I highly suggest seeing a nutritionist or an Ayurvedic doctor -if that's available to you- to deepen your knowledge of your dosha (mind-body type) in order to find a diet that will really be suitable for you individually. I am not an expert but can recommend generic foods that are known to have a calming effects on our organisms such as: Asparagus, Avocado, Berries, Almonds, Oranges, Spinach and Oatmeal. Some of these foods boost our mood, while others give us vitamins that support our happiness and mental health. For instance, depression has been linked to low levels of folic acid and Vitamin C is a vitamin known to lower blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol. Food should always be our number one 'go to' for preventive care and to feel more at ease in our bodies and more at peace in our minds.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Hippocrates
"To stand up and speak out in support of such ends is not necessarily to meddle in party politics. It is, rather, to bring the moral weight of the dharma to bear on matters that affect the lives of people everywhere."
Bhikkhu Bodhi