Tapping into that New Year "Newness"
Ahh, it feels great to get a new year- a clean slate- a chance to hit that reset button on 2016.
I survived the holidays with my family, which is no small feat. The new year feels like the calm after an emotional whirlwind whipping up the past, old patterns of interaction, and new sources pain with the joy and celebration of the occasion. But there were other more positive aspects of 2016 to reflect on. I did meet some personal goals by deepening the craft of instructing yoga and my own practice.
In 2016, I started a course led by Christopher Wallis, author and Tantric scholar on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Wallis says that the very "first three Sutras are the essence of the whole text". This first chapter gives advice on how to connect with one's inner most self and to me, the first three Sutras feels like a great way to start the new year.
Yoga Sutra 1.1: "Now begins the inquiry" or "Now is taught yoga-the method that lets us see things as they really are."
Wallis says that we do this by practicing awareness of reality without filtering everything through the our mind and thoughts and judgements. We practice seeing reality with "the beginner's mind" or as things are without the mind's preconceived notions or patterns of thought.
But do we really want to see reality? This will not always feel good because reality can be painful and awkward. But Wallis says that this pain can bring an intimacy with reality. This truth and honesty with ourselves can bring us a deep sense of joy- a deep sense of true joy rather than the fleeting act of feeling better in the moment which is not necessarily yoga.
So what do i mean by "yoga"? I will use Wallis's definition:
Yoga Sutra 1.2: "Yoga is the result of the process in which the mind becomes still- where thoughts and emotional fluctuations subside." Wallis says this stillness is the key because when our minds are still, we can be aware of the parts inside of us that remain unchanged since our first memories in childhood; our fundamental selves. When we turn off all the noise, we reside in our true nature, a state of profound inner stillness.
And why would we want to reside in this stillness? Wallis continues by noting the benefit of experiencing this profound state of inner stillness is that it grounds us. "This grounding stillness helps us avoid overwhelm and despair. Fullness of heart, presence and love are only available to those who know their true selves." This leads us to Wallis's interpretation of Sutra 1.3...
Yoga Sutra 1.3: " When yoga happens, then we, the perceiver, can abide in our own true nature."
Wallis notes that's one's true nature is not just another experience-not like the temporary and ever-changing states of the mind. When we become one with our center, we connect with the serenity and quiet joy that are naturally a part of our true nature.
Now doesn't that sound like a great way to start the new year?
Try Christopher Wallis's three minute practice for connecting with one's true nature:
1. In a comfortable seat, relax the body. Start with the top of the head and work your way down the face, neck, body cavity, organs, arms, hands hips, legs and feet. (One minute)
2. Focus the attention deeply within the heart space- at the back and base of the heart. Keep focusing all attention in the heart space noticing how this feels. If the attention drifts back to the head and mind, gently bring it back to the heart. (Two minutes)
3. Feel into the essence of your core, unfiltered by the fluctuating mind and deep in the body.
Namaste and a truly joyful new year to you all.
Krista
