Ananda is a word used in both yogic and buddhist lexicons. It means pure bliss or joy. It is often found as a suffix in the spiritual names of those who have attained samadhi and thus live blissfully a human existence (eg: Yogananda, Sivananda).
I am inviting ananda into my daily life. I have become aware that at times my yoga practice is a little too, well, serious. I have a serious side to me and naturally this translates to my practice. But I also have a very whimsical and playful side. I don’t feel that this translates into my practice. I invite it to join in the fun!
I became aware of one fundamentally joyful and mysterious thing today, while holding Natarajasana: I am alive! Yes – I am alive and that is both joyful and mysterious. Alive. ALIVE! With focus, I could watch the joy generated by my awareness of my own vitality transform into simple bliss, ananda.
So, dear yogis, let us be happy and joyful and celebrate our lives. Let’s strive to be more conscious, more aware, more expansive and more creative. I invite joy into my life…shall you do the same?
Om.
Be here, now
Breathe like you mean it.
Let the breath contain the movement
The breath is the link between the exterior and the interior yogic practices. It is not in vain that pranayama is the fourth of the eight limbs (ashtanga) of yoga. The first three are the most external: habits and behaviours towards yourself and others (niyamas, yamas) and postures (asana). The last 4 angas are to do with the mind (dhyana, dharana etc.) Therefore, the breathing techniques (pranayama) form the link between the body and the mind.
The mind has no form, it is composed only of the thoughts that define it. The quality of mind can be either tamasic (heavy) or rajasic (excited) when not trained. The trained mind is satvic (calm). Because it is very difficult to work directly on the mind, to make it more satvic, we bring the mind under control by learning the control the breath. Breathing is the only physiological process that is under both conscious and unconscious control.
An easy way to focus your yoga practice is to pay attention to the breath. The breath should be a parenthesis to the movement. This means that the breath is always longer than the movement: it begins before the movement begins, and ends after the movement ends. For example, with arms by your side, begin breathing in. Raise your arms above your head. Finish the breath after the arms come to vertical. Now, do this breathing technique throughout your practice. It is very difficult to maintain this kind of mental focus. Don’t worry if your mind wavers. When you notice it doing so, come back to the focus (bhavana.)
Om.
Yoga teachers in the neighborhood
OK, I don’t have a list of class times, but here are the people who come to mind:
Carmen Sánchez Segura – classes in the Centro Social de Altea. Private classes also offered.
Carmen Cruz – classes in Karuna
Beatriz Cano – classes in Altea La Vieja
Kathy Ward – Yoga therapy in Altea la Vieja
Elisa Motta Maya – Classes in El Jardín de los Sentidos
I’m sure there are more, but these good people spring to mind right now. Om