The Delicate & Profound Magic of Chair Yoga
“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”>
Heading out the door? Learn this text on the brand new Outdoors+ app out there now on iOS units for members!
>”,”identify”:”in-content-cta”,”kind”:”hyperlink”}}”>Obtain the app.
As yoga practitioners, we regularly look to the The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as the first textual content for the elemental teachings and philosophy. However the part of the sutras that we hardly ever discuss is the third chapter, during which Patanjali particulars the magical powers that may be gained by means of our apply.
He warns that we shouldn’t be connected to those powers—but he shares them nonetheless. Intensive meditation, or samyama, can produce these magical outcomes, he explains. For instance, meditating on a feather can allow us to levitate, meditating on the form of somebody’s bodily type can enable us to learn their thoughts, meditating on an elephant can lend us its power, meditating on the solar gives data of your entire photo voltaic system, meditating on our coronary heart permits us to know our personal thoughts, and far more.
Up to date practitioners are most likely much less occupied with levitation than longevity. However there’s a magic right here that hasn’t been completely explored. The actual fact is, yoga was designed to supply us efficient methods to work with our thoughts and direct our power, or prana. It asks us to have interaction with the important parts of life itself—power and consciousness—somewhat than merely going by means of the motions.
On a regular basis Magic
It’s simple to overlook in regards to the magic round us. Our nervous system is designed to concentrate to what adjustments and largely ignore what stays the identical. We are inclined to overlook the on a regular basis magic in every breath and each step. Yoga helps heighten our consciousness and shift our notion in order that we are able to understand what’s particular within the seemingly mundane.
Chair yoga has an earthly high quality about it. Most of us can simply think about ourselves working towards it. “I’ll simply sit on this chair and perform a little stretching and respiratory.” It’s virtually too easy.
However that’s the place the magic exists—merely being open to the chance. As soon as we begin working towards, yoga takes care of the remainder. We do some easy actions whereas connecting the breath to the physique and swiftly we discover a way of calm has come over us out of seeming nowhere. Like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, peace appears to look from nothing.
The factor is, the rabbit was there all alongside, hidden contained in the hat. Our peace is like that rabbit. It’s typically hidden from us, however it’s all the time there beneath the floor, ready to be revealed.
What Makes Yoga…Yoga?
The problem is, how can we discover a yoga apply that successfully reminds us of that magic?
We regularly make yoga extra sophisticated than vital. The best way we are able to flip any exercise into yoga is by doing it with aware consciousness that cultivates an inward focus somewhat than an exterior focus. Strive it now. Merely lengthening the backbone on an inhalation or elevating an arm with consciousness of each sensation can domesticate the state of yoga.
Once I’m coaching yoga lecturers to show chair yoga, I usually ask them what the distinction is between a chair yoga class and a chair train class. On the floor, they might seem like the identical. The reply is how and the place we focus the thoughts.
The alchemy of yoga is the transformation that comes from altering our perspective. This will really feel particularly magical after we are caught or unable to see a approach out of a troublesome state of affairs. By focusing the thoughts, we acquire entry to the facility of yoga in untold methods. We let go of the standard asanas (poses) and give attention to the extra important parts of apply. We will turn into aware of the methods we transfer, the methods we breathe, the methods we really feel, and the methods we act.
We then start to make aware selections the place we could have beforehand engaged in a routine response. That’s when the magic occurs–by harnessing the facility of the thoughts by means of a centered apply. And it’s out there to all of us.
RELATED:
A Calming Chair Yoga Apply to Reconnect With Your self
