Wednesday, June 17, 2020 (Part I)
One of the best analogies that describes our mind, and awareness, can be found in this short, one minute video.
Our mind, and thoughts naturally run around in our head; disobedient, willful, and reactive....we rarely make our brain/mind sit still for any length of time.
A goal of yoga, and meditation, is to be able to condition and control your mind (and body), so that you can, on a whim, ask the "monkey" to sit still...and it will obey.
A simple method to practice is finding an object (any object will do from a religious item, to the bowl of apples sitting on your table), and holding that image, and that image alone, in your mind. See how long you hold the image before other thoughts begin to creep in....
Become comfortable with the idea of sitting still, and it can become a habit. A still mind can discern what's real, from what's fake; a still mind is not depressed, scared, or apprehensive; a still mind is not anxious.
Time to begin, as always, with meditation, and prayer....
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 (Part II),
Part I discussed the Monkey Mind....
Ok,....so what benefits do I get when I control the monkey?
In a physical/Asana portion of your practice, you'll very often find yourself in extremely challenging spots; upside down, one leg up, stretched to your limit, abdomen compressed, abdomen stretched....you name it! When in these physically challenging conditions, the monkey is panicking....."I NEED AIR...STOP THIS...THIS IS PAINFUL...REEEEEEEE!!!!!!".
With practice, even when you're balancing on your head, you can make the monkey sit still; you can make him sit still, you can make him breath, and you can make him peaceful. Do this, and you become "detached" from the physical discomfort you're experiencing, and you become an "observer" of your body. This brings you a step closer to the 5th branch of yoga; Pratyahara.
Until tomorrow.
Namaste...and train that monkey!
One of the best analogies that describes our mind, and awareness, can be found in this short, one minute video.
Our mind, and thoughts naturally run around in our head; disobedient, willful, and reactive....we rarely make our brain/mind sit still for any length of time.
A goal of yoga, and meditation, is to be able to condition and control your mind (and body), so that you can, on a whim, ask the "monkey" to sit still...and it will obey.
A simple method to practice is finding an object (any object will do from a religious item, to the bowl of apples sitting on your table), and holding that image, and that image alone, in your mind. See how long you hold the image before other thoughts begin to creep in....
Become comfortable with the idea of sitting still, and it can become a habit. A still mind can discern what's real, from what's fake; a still mind is not depressed, scared, or apprehensive; a still mind is not anxious.
Time to begin, as always, with meditation, and prayer....
Wednesday, June 17, 2020 (Part II),
Part I discussed the Monkey Mind....
Ok,....so what benefits do I get when I control the monkey?
In a physical/Asana portion of your practice, you'll very often find yourself in extremely challenging spots; upside down, one leg up, stretched to your limit, abdomen compressed, abdomen stretched....you name it! When in these physically challenging conditions, the monkey is panicking....."I NEED AIR...STOP THIS...THIS IS PAINFUL...REEEEEEEE!!!!!!".
With practice, even when you're balancing on your head, you can make the monkey sit still; you can make him sit still, you can make him breath, and you can make him peaceful. Do this, and you become "detached" from the physical discomfort you're experiencing, and you become an "observer" of your body. This brings you a step closer to the 5th branch of yoga; Pratyahara.
Until tomorrow.
Namaste...and train that monkey!
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