At the end of a yoga practice we often place our hands together and bow our heads down to touch the earth.
The simple act of placing the palms together could be a ritual of yoking the energies of the self into one place of pure presence. Have you ever felt like there are layers of you in different places? For example you are having a conversation with someone and your mind is involved with someone else... or worse yet... yourself?
Bowing could be surrendering the ego.
I have found this gesture useful. I am happy to come out of the drivers seat for a moment in time (because this isn't an easy thing for me!). I am pleased to use the moment as a dissipation of my thoughts. There is a possibility there to be opened by the moment and able to let go of self referencing.
I end my practice with this even if I am alone. Sometimes the act means that I am bowing to the center of my heart. It is always quiet there, vast, confident and completely free. It is the teacher.
Touching the earth with my forehead is also a reminder to me that I am part of the natural world. The earth shed a piece so that I could discover myself... and she will take my vehicle for exploration back some unknown day. It is easy to feel this in The Yoga Studio when I am gazing out at the great granite rock that blesses our space. This thought helps me stay aware of interconnectedness.
For some people this gesture might be a little weird feeling or even frightening? In a low grade, lukewarm sort of way. Maybe it even brings other sticky stuff? Mild aversion or repulsion or... whatever? Nothing is wrong with that.
Maybe there is a possibility that surrender or bowing in humility is not a part of our culture. Ritual or creating emphasis on the sacred may not be either.
If anything brings up peculiar emotions or brings up little waves of questioning - it is always skillfull to look deeper into the root of what is happening. This is the job of a yoga practitioner. To get to the root of things, record the data, find the closest thing that makes sense to the truth in that moment...
and prepare for that truth to perhaps have the fluid quality of change.
xoxo
Lydia
7 comments:
I love your inspirational blog! Great photos........
Ill add you to my list on
http://www.barrhavenyogablog.blogspot.com/
How did you get to be so wise so young? Good to see you writing.
Such thoughtful words and I love the photo...reminds me of Roy Henry Vickers gallery in Tofino. Hope to meet you next time we visit Sarah and Scott.
We live in a paradoxical universe: We want to feel grounded, "touching the Earth," but at the same time we want to feel enlightened, touching the sky. Mahalo for acceptance and grace.
Christian Louboutin Mary Janes Discount
Christian Louboutin Pumps
Buy Christian Louboutin Pumps
Cheap Christian Louboutin Pumps
Christian Louboutin Pumps Discount
Christian Louboutin Pumps Sale
Christian Louboutin Sandals
CHI Babyliss Flat Iron
CHI Camo Collection
CHI Ceramic Flat Iron
CHI TURBO Flat Iron
WEE CHI Flat Iron
GHD Benefit Styler
This is a right on target observation of the value of that deep namaste bow. It's a prayer of recognition at the end-to me it serves as a reminder. that as i leave the mat, I remain in the practice. I'm kind of asking the earth, with my head bowed down to it, to remain with me after I leave. Yoga always makes my life that much better.
Yeah you said well. Its only yoga which teaches us much more. In the yoga classes I did not learn only poses, its benefits but I learnt also that how are we attached with the nature?
Post a Comment