Direct Experience: Understanding Asana

Direct Experience: Discovery Through Immediate Sense Perception

When Confucius said, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand,” he was describing the value of direct experience. Direct experience is the most effective way to deeply understand something. What is direct experience?

Someone can tell me how to ride a bike. I can watch someone ride a bike. But it is only when I get on a bike and pedal that I truly understand how to ride a bike. Until we’ve had a direct experience of something, our knowing is theoretical and our doing is imitation.

In terms of asana (yoga postures), direct experience is what happens when I am no longer thinking about what I am doing but, instead, am feeling my way through it. I become aware of my physical relationship to the space around me, the earth beneath me and the shape my body parts are making. I become aware of my body experientially - awareness of the body through the body as opposed to awareness of the body through the mind.

One of the first times I had a direct experience was in a yoga class. I remember that a sense of awe came over me. The teacher was not giving much instruction and I could feel what my body “wanted” to do. It wasn’t something I was thinking about and then executing consciously. I was following what felt like requests from my body, without any thought or evaluation; without mental will being actively involved. 

When I was no longer simply following my teacher’s verbal direction and/or imitating her movements, I was able to “hear” my body; I was able to follow its instruction. This is direct experience, in the context of asana and, for me, it was the prerequisite to becoming more deeply aware of my unique - and shifting - physiological habits and capacities. Through direct experience I was able to feel my way through postures, finding greater ease and discovering new and more effective ways of moving my body into and out of the different shapes that we call yoga postures. 

The magic of yoga is in what happens as we are able to drop into a direct experience of the postures.

Do you give yourself and your students quiet moments in class so that they can discover the magic of direct experience? 

Monkey Mind: Stillness As Antidote

Monkey Mind: An Ayurvedic Perspective on Stilling our Busy Minds

The Monkey Mind is a Buddhist concept that describes the highly mobile quality of our mental landscape. It alludes to the monkey-like quality of a mind that jumps from thought to thought, just as a monkey leaps from branch to branch; only letting go of one as it grabs onto another. 

In Part 1 of this exploration titled, Awareness: Doorway to a Better Life (see preceding article), we looked at the relationship between awareness and our monkey mind. We saw that, until the monkey mind is quieted, cultivating awareness of ourselves and the world around us proves challenging. 

How can I quiet or still the restless monkey mind?

Ayurvedic scholars identified 20 Gunas or Qualities that are found in nature and the human physiology and psychology. These qualities are generally presented and studied as 10 pairs of opposites. 

Mobile and Stable (also called Static) compose one of the pairs. 

The monkey mind quality of our mental landscape is, in Ayurvedic terms, a manifestation of the mobile principle (in an aggravated state). Hyper-mobility of the mind - and its various side effects, such as anxiety, agitation, restlessness, indecision and, in the extreme, insomnia - is one of the most well-known afflictions in Ayurveda. As such, Ayurveda has a number of recommendations for taming the monkey mind and reducing the incidence of anxiety and other common symptoms of excessive mobility.  

One of the two fundamental principles of Ayurveda is, Like Increases Like.

This means that, when we already have a lot of certain quality - either naturally occurring in our physiology and psychology or acquired through lifestyle choices - we don’t want more of that quality. 

The monkey mind is exacerbated by a lifestyle of constant stimulation, multi-tasking, inadequate physical and mental rest; some foods can also increase the mobile quality in our minds.

The second of the two fundamental principles of Ayurveda is Opposites Decrease Each Other. 

This means that, when introduce stillness and stability into our lives, we reduce the mobile quality in our psychophysiology, thus quieting the monkey mind. 

Whether we use mediation (of which there are many types), Tai Chi or Yin, Restorative or slow Hatha Yoga, when we spend more time moving slowly - or remain in complete stillness - the activity of the monkey mind is reduced by the introduction of its opposite. 

Are you ready to make a commitment to stillness to quiet your monkey mind?

Awareness: Doorway to a Better Life

Awareness: Why is it so Challenging to Cultivate?

Awareness is a word we hear often these days. In yoga class, we talk about awareness of the breath and the body. Some teachers also encourage awareness of thought or mental processes, as well as emotions. In Ayurveda, awareness is cited as the number one prerequisite for maintaining health. If we know that awareness is the essential starting point for a healthier body and mind and a richer experience of life, why is it still so hard to put this knowledge into action? Monkey Mind.

The Buddhist perspective attempts to answer this question by using a metaphor called Monkey Mind (or Mind Monkey). It describes the active nature of the human mind as being like the restless behaviour of a monkey. Just as the monkey lets go of one vine only to grasp onto the next, so our minds ceaselessly jump from thought to thought. 

This constant state of distraction makes it extremely difficult to focus on our present-centred experience, including our breath, bodily sensation, emotions and what’s happening around us. Often we are not even aware of the thoughts that are distracting us; they are so varied and come and go so quickly that our mental experience is a non-stop, inner prattling on.

So, the question becomes: if it is incessant mental distraction that inhibits awareness, how can I be free of mental distractions?

Like any skill, becoming more aware of ourselves and the world around us requires practice. The first step is to find out how we can reduce the mental chatter that distracts us from present-centred awareness. But imagine trying to teach a monkey to sit still without plying it with food or another shiny reward. This is the challenge we face when trying to still the mind; or to uncover the already-still mind beneath the surface waves of incessant chatter.

The good news is, unlike the monkey, there is a reward for us in this practice. A still mind is a mind that is free, however briefly, from anxiety and myriad other unpleasant side effects of the untamed Monkey Mind.

So if awareness is the prerequisite for a healthier life, freer from anxiety - and a still mind is the prerequisite for awareness - are you ready, now, to make time to still your mind?

Stay tuned for Part 2 - Taming the Monkey Mind with Meditation - to learn more.

Ayurveda: A new way of seeing ourselves and the world around us

With Ayurveda we see through new eyes.

Why are some people intense and others laid back? Why do some want to shine in the spotlight while others are happy to work quietly behind-the-scenes? Why is one person content with routine and constancy while another craves change and excitement and a third seeks challenge and accomplishment?

Ayurveda says we’re all made up of the same stuff but in varying amounts. Because of this, each one of us has a unique physiological and psychological make-up. This is called our Ayurvedic Constitution or sometimes, simply, our Dosha.

The Five Elements

Space, Air, Fire, Water, Earth. Ayurveda says each person’s Dosha is a combination of these Five Elements, or Pancha Mahabhuta as they’re called in Sanskrit.

Each element is associated with particular qualities. When we observe these qualities in human beings, someone with a lot of the Fire element will have an intense character and be drawn to challenge, compelled to be productive and desirous of influencing others. If Space (sometimes called Ether) and Air predominate, you find a person who thinks creatively, is quick to embrace change and enthusiastic about all that is new and different. When Water and Earth are the main constituents we see someone stable and steady, who enjoys going slowly and adhering to routine.

The Tridosha Theory

The ancient “Seers” who observed these tendencies developed the Tridosha Theory of Ayurveda; the three Doshas are: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Vata was the name they gave to a human - or any natural phenomenon - that exhibited the qualities associated with Space and Air. So whether it was a person, a type of food or a season - if it was primarily cold, light (as opposed to heavy), dry and mobile, they would say this specimen was Vata predominant. If the dominant attributes were hot, sharp (think mind or tongue), oily and penetrating, this person, season or food would be called Pitta predominant. Kapha predominant is how we’d describe a subject - human, animal or vegetable - that is cool, heavy, slow, stable and unctuous.

Because we’re all a little different, we all need an individualized diet, daily routine and exercise regimen or yoga practice. So, knowing your Ayurvedic Constitution is the essential first step in discovering the most effective route to a healthier mind and body for you.

Are you ready to become the orchestrator of your own health and well-being?
Ayurveda can show you how.
Book an Ayurveda Consultation today by clicking here.

Take this Dosha Quiz to discover your unique Ayurvedic Constitution or Dosha.

Get In Touch With Your Inner Guru

What is your inner guru? As you may have guessed, your inner guru is your own wisdom, accessed by turning inwards. The wisdom of the inner guru comes to us in many ways. Perhaps you mention to a friend that you’ve been grappling with a decision and soon after you say this, the answer becomes clear. Maybe you are a creative type and your ideas seem to pop-up out of nowhere. If you are a parent, partner or business owner, perhaps your inner guru shines through most brightly when you suddenly discover new ways to meet the needs of all who depend on you.

The inner guru is evident when you find yourself making decisions with greater and greater ease - and everything works out. Or, things don’t work out but you don’t get very upset about it. As we become wiser with the help of our inner guru, not only do we feel more clear about which direction is the best one for us but we meet the less-than-perfect situations in life with more patience and grace.

Ayurveda grew out of the desire to contact the wisdom of the inner guru. It was developed by people like you and I who wanted answers to the most difficult questions we face in life: who am I? How should I live? How can I find meaning and fulfillment? After thousands of years of inquiry and experimentation, this body of knowledge has been made available to us. Ayurveda offers a host of practices for reconnecting with our inner guru.

The first step in rediscovering the voice within is detoxifying the body — gently and safely. Ayurveda proposes that toxins in our bodies prevent the free and clear flow of biological intelligence. When our body doesn’t function properly we experience indigestion, restlessness, indecision, fatigue, emotional turbulence and other physical and psychological discomforts that prevent clear thinking. So, Ayurveda says that we must, first, optimize digestion, which allows detoxification to happen naturally. We can alter our diet, exercise routine or daily regimen; take herbs, meditate or do yoga. Ayurveda meets you where you’re at and says, “What are you willing to change right now? Let’s make a plan that is realistic for you.”

If you find yourself excited about this possibility, find out how Ayurveda can help you. Are you ready to reconnect with your inner guru?

What Is Mindfulness, Really? Practices for Daily Life

I recently said to a friend, as I watched him eat very quickly (as he always does), “You’re really not interested in mindful eating, are you?” He replied, “I don’t get mindful eating,”. “Respectfully,” I said, “if you don’t get mindful eating, I’m not sure you understand mindfulness at all.” “Maybe not,” he said.

Thich Nhat Hanh says, “Mindfulness is the energy that helps us to know what is going on in the present moment. I drink water and I know that I am drinking the water. Drinking the water is what is happening.”

How often in a day, do you know what is going on in the present moment? How often are you aware of the movement of your breath? The sensation in your spine? The distant sound of a bird or a car driving by? To be mindful is to be engaged in the practice of noticing what is happening right now.

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Waking Up: A Chance to Begin Anew

How do you feel when you’re first waking up? Are you excited for a new day? Do you feel like you’re starting anew? Or do you dread getting out of bed? Or maybe it depends which day of the week it is? Take a moment right now and close your eyes and think about the last time you felt excitement for life as you were waking up.

Waking up happens every morning. It’s a unique moment in our day, transitioning from sleep to waking life. In that moment we have a potent opportunity to shift our perspective and set the tone for our day.

My Ayurveda teacher, Dr. Vasant Lad, suggests that as we wake up we can rub our hands together to make them warm (if they’re not already) and then softly rub our face, neck and torso for a gently invigorating start to our day.

I met a man once, in India, who said that, every morning as he’s waking up, he looks at the palms of his hands and thanks God for another day.

As a yoga teacher, I use the idea of waking up to help my students access a “starting anew” feeling...

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Does the Early Bird Really Catch the Worm?

I’ve always been a morning person. I used to practically leap out of bed in the morning. I’d throw the covers off, swing my legs over the edge and hit the ground running.

Ayurveda suggests that, to optimize energy, waking just before sunrise is ideal for Pitta types; waking well before sunrise is best for Kapha but Vata can sleep later due to their hyper-mobile nature. They need more rest and stillness, since they are so mentally and physically active when awake.

I’m Pitta predominant and I’ve always enjoyed waking early after about 7 hours of sleep. This is exactly what Ayurveda suggests is a good amount of sleep for my type so, lucky me! I seem to be right on track.

Waking really early does have its cons, though. I’m often negotiating earlier dinner dates with friends so that I can be finished dinner by 7pm and home and in bed by 10:30pm. In the summer, when the days are longer, I sometimes wake as early as 4:30 or 5am and then find myself ready to be done the day by 5pm, when many friends are just getting off work and wanting to go out and do something active after sitting at a desk all day.

Since my early riser lifestyle occasionally puts me out of sync with others, I started to wonder if this schedule really does work best for me or if it’s just a habit I’ve gotten into. Would I actually function worse (or better) if I went to bed later and/or slept longer?

So, I did an experiment and started staying up later…

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