This past week while we worked hard again on our standing poses we reviewed the definition of Yoga as put forth in Patanjali Yoga Sutra. Patanjali in the first few Sutras actually uses Yoga as a verb.
“Yoga is the cessation of movements in the movements in the consciousness. Then, the seer dwells in his own true spendour. At other times, the seer identifies with the fluctuating consciousness.” BKS Iyengar translation of Sutra I.2-1.4
Cessation or at least control of, or restraint, in the wonderings of our consciousness is what we actually try to practice! Standing poses – while facing stiff muscles and joints, and balance difficulties – require a very steady will and mind!
The assumption here is that we, the practitioners, are deep down true enlightened “seers”! And it’s only when we don’t have good control over the layers of our consciousness that we consider ourselves defined by our current troubles, or difficulties.
There is an occasional glimpse of that clear, still soul within…..
That’s brilliant! I do feel the effects the standing poses have on the mind. After reading that lesson from Patanjali, I feel so much more interested in exploring the standing poses with this in mind, rather than feeling challenged by concerns I have about doing the pose “well”.