Be strong! Be free!

Last time I already mentioned Yoga Sutra 1.20.  In this sutra Patanjali gives us the keys of yogic practice. Faith. Strength. Memory. Contemplation. Discernment. Just briefly again, faith must be there – or at least courage. You must be strong. You should have a good memory of all the mistakes you have made and lessons you’ve learned so a not to fall back into the worldly root again. And, of course, there must be contemplation or Samadhi, as Patanjali has been talking about all long. Finally we need discernment or rather discrimination between the real (Self) and the unreal (Prakriti).

Strength seems to be so obvious. It is proven that yoga is extremely beneficial in strength and endurance building. You can find hundreds of scientific articles of that if you Google it! Sages and saints from centuries in India have performed this miraculous art to achieve a stress free temper and disease free body. Yoga through its different asanas helps in developing a better coordination between different body organs along with your mind and your soul leaving you feel extremely fit and fine. Apart from providing you with vigor and activeness, yoga is also helpful in healing the diseases persisting in your body thus leaving you with more strength and endurance. Many physical trainers suggest of yoga. It is a proven fact that yoga makes you feel strong and light. After a regular practice of yoga for few months starts yogi is already feeling twice as stronger than before.

Well, I admit you something. I hope that you are sitting right now. Yogis are human. Yoga teachers are human, too. And personally, I had to realize being strong is not so obvious for me. It is a huge brand new recognition in my life that there is a significant difference between real inner strength or tries to seem to be strong. What’s that weird sentence?! ‘Tries to seem to be strong’? Who does that? Welcome in the real world, Neo. You. Me. Us. Take this opportunity to bring consciousness into this moment and think about it a little bit. It is so easy to build walls around you and wear masks in every situation of your life, even while practicing yoga, to be sure: everyone think that you are right, you are strong, and you can do it, you are the best. This is the game of your ego. And all of us playing the game. The only aim is always seems to be cool, strong, beautiful, clever, successful, talented, different, the number one. Always say the last word in the quarrel; always prove that you were right. Tiny lies. Masquerade. It is rumored that French aristocrats died because instead of cleaning their face just use more and more face-powder so under their masks the face started to rot away. It’s disgusting, isn’t? But look in the mirror: we have the same masks just they are invisible in the 21^st century… invisible even for us. Can you tell how many times of your life were yourself, just as you are? Honest, defenseless, vulnerable?

But how do we wear masks even during practicing on the yoga mat? You may already know this principle: law of compensation. The law of compensation says that when mobility or strength is limited in one area, a movement will express itself in the next available area and the body tries to avoid the weak or tight parts, find another way. It seems like you are doing the pose properly but say it simply: you cheat a little bit. And you can spend years with these little cheats you even do not realize. That’s how we are repeating our same old habits even as we practice yoga or live our lives. What’s happening? Without change usually pain and injury in the years to come. The easy way is always going to be the hardest way.

What to do then? You need to find your deepest source of strength. Find out where your real inner strength comes from. For example, when through practice you find the ability to keep your attention firmly centered inside and still keep enough of your mind focused on your actions so that you function skillfully, you draw on this strength. This is what lets you remain steady no matter what distractions storm around you. This kind of strength doesn't have to be aggressive or hard; it has firmness that comes from observing your emotional reactions without identifying with them. It doesn't have to overexert itself, because it knows how to follow the path of least resistance. Flowing like water. Flowing like yoga. This strength always radiates from the inside out. It comes from the center, and it doesn't matter how you discover or access that center as long as you get there. As you become more familiar with this steady power, you'll find it in moments when your intention and motivation are clear. This strength is an infallible source of support. The support that never leaves you.

So, I suggest meeting your yoga mat every day or as often as you can, observing yourself on practicing yoga and finding your little cheats. Find your masks and work with them. Throw them away. Strength is courage. Strength is your inner faith. It seems to be familiar, isn’t it? Faith and strength are coming after each other like pearls in a necklace. Wow! Patanjali really must know something! And you already have two pearls on your necklace... Wear it! Strength is vulnerability. Strength is to let ourselves be seen, deeply seen, vulnerably seen. Strength is to love with whole heart, even through there is no guarantee. Strength is to practice gratitude and joy. Strength is to believe that I am enough. If I can believe that I am enough, I stop screaming and start listening. I am kinder and gentler to the people around me. And I am kinder and gentler to myself. Yoga practice is being light, loved and free. However sometimes we forget that this freedom comes from regular practicing and deep inner work. Do not wait for external happiness! Do not wait for the right person, the right job, the right moment! Your home is right here. Home is where the root is. Home is your yoga mat! When we nurse the root inside us, everything else just happens easily. And the goal is freedom. Freedom from looking outside of ourselves; cycling through that wheel of disappointment; that fullness and emptiness after each other time to time. Freedom is to be exactly who you are. Be yourself! Be free! Be strong!