Real Yoga
What is real yoga? The original practice of yoga is sitting meditation, but since modern people find sitting still and concentrating so difficult, the physical practices of stretching and breathing were introduced to help make the body more flexible and healthy and to de-stress the mind. Although asana practice is generally referred to as yoga today, yoga does not really start until one is sitting peacefully with a concentrated mind. Asana just scratches the surface, if you want to experience real yoga, you need to add several other practices that help to take you deeper.
In fact, yoga is composed of eight interconnected practices known as ashtanga yoga that lead one from the stressed out, afflicted and unhealthy condition in which we find ourselves, progressively deeper into a healing process that leads towards greater peace, clarity, self-awareness and happiness.
According to yoga, the cause for all our suffering is a lack of proper self knowledge or awareness. According to yoga, our true nature is unchanging consciousness, while our bodies and minds are constantly changing. Because the mind is always so busy with the changing nature of experience, we are never properly self aware. This leads to a lot of confusion and suffering. Due to this lack of proper self-knowledge, we have a tendency to identify with the mind and body, which leads us to make unhealthy choices that in turn lead to imbalance in our system, sickness and pain.
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Ashtanga Yoga is a comprehensive system that addresses this imbalance and brings health and clarity to all aspects of experience. The starting point is to address some of the pains and stresses felt in the physical body through asana practice. But proper physical healing and re-balancing can only take place if we address the underlying psychological causes that have resulted in our physical pains. The next step is pranayama. Pranayama (breathing exercises) utilise the understanding that mind, body and breath are intimately connected. In accordance with psychological healing that starts to take place through the practice of pranayama, changes in lifestyle and habits also need to be considered (three main factors determine good health - proper sleep, exercise and diet).
Just as asana practice just scratches the surface of the therapeutic process, pranayama is just the first step in psychological healing. Pranayama can improve health and well-being and begin to cultivate a state of equanimity, but the healing process requires one to go deeper and to identify the actual causes that lie in the unconscious mind and memory. Pratyahara is the next practice that internalises awareness and aids in the restriction of reactive behaviour. The senses are connected via the lower mind to organs of action. Pratyahara turns the senses inwards and with them the lower, reactive mind and its organs are withdrawn from action. Only then are we capable of proper introspection and concentration.
Today, asana practice is mainly used for physical benefits - you get flexible, healthy and strong. There are some psychological benefits that go with this. But if asana practice is not focused on the target of yoga, it remains ineffective in preparing us for meditation. In the same way, there are so many pranayamas, but which ones should you practice and how? Without a proper target, these will also not be effective. Does anyone even teach pratyahara? Its practice has been almost completely lost along with the original techniques of yogic meditation.
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Yoga is samadhi - a totally tranquil, introverted, peaceful condition of the mind in which thoughts are reduced to the minimum and eventually stop all together. When the mind is thus stilled, the true nature (consciousness) is revealed, while when the mind is busy (as in normal circumstances), there is an apparent blending of that nature with what is experienced. The result of this blending of consciousness with mind is a lack of self-awareness or self-knowledge and this is the cause of all suffering according to yoga.
Yoga practices are designed to bring the mind into this peaceful and concentrated state, so that the inner soul, Self, consciousness can be experienced as it is. A regular re-connection with the true nature results in a complete transformation of mind, a release from anxiety, over-indulgence, addiction, egoism and affliction in general. This immersion in consciousness results in bliss, clear vision, perception of truth, being in truth. It is the actual target we crave when we desire objects, accolades and sensual experiences, that through our delusion we chase after and suffer for so passionately.
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A Taste of Real Yoga beyond Asana
Retreat in Greece
September 16-22, 2023
In this course of study and practice, we will explore yoga in full. We expect to understand yoga in depth and to gain authentic experience. Every person is in a different place on their path in life. Some are ripe for spiritual experience. Some crave it passionately but also suffer a lot of afflictions. Some do not know that this is what they need or desire. Every one will have a different experience through practice. Some can attain deep and lasting peace and others will catch a glimpse, will experience just a taste.
But a taste is enough to give confidence that one is going in the right direction and gives strength to persevere. Practicing with others provides mutual strength and power on the path. A community of practitioners with common intention get deeper results. Apart from learning and practicing authentic methods, the support of a sangha of like-minded individuals is a great benefit.
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This retreat is open to anyone regardless of previous experience or practice of a particular style of yoga. The day will start with guided practice that integrates asana, pranayama, pratyahara and meditation and the afternoon sessions will be a presentation of yoga theory, philosophy, psychology and spiritual practice, with Q&A and guided meditation.