God's Word in Your Sight = Life and Health

Sometimes life throws us a twist.  What we never expected happens:  an accident, an untimely death, a difficult consequence to a foolish decision.  How we respond at times like this is crucial.  Fortunately, we can always go to the Word of God to find the wisdom we need in such confusing times.  God’s finite Word is the light that brings hope to an otherwise dark situation.  No matter what the circumstances may be, when we keep God’s Word in our sight, we will find life and health for the whole body.

This week in your yoga practice, experiment with some new twists to some familiar poses.  Maintain a clear focus and core awareness and keep the word God has spoken to you in your sight. If you practice centering prayer or meditate, use the word He has spoken to you as your sacred word or mantra. 

 

My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen closely to my words.   

Don’t let them out of your sight.  Keep them in your heart.    

They are life to those who find them.  They are health to your whole body.

Proverbs 4:20-22 (NIV) 

Know Thyself... with Ayurveda

We're not really sure which Greek sage first said "Know thyself."  But it's a saying that has always motivated me to examine my ways and means.

Yoga philosophy certainly encourages one to know oneself, and the Bible, too, states in Galations 6:4-5:  But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.  For every person will have to bear (be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [little] load [of oppressive faults].  Amplified Bible

I like the way The Message puts Galations 6:4-5 too:  Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.   

So this week we're going to look at basic Ayurvada principles to help us to know ourselves in a new way.  Ayurveda, which translates into “life knowledge” or “science of life,” is a sister philosophy to Yoga.  Ayurveda is an assortment of natural healing methods which, together, form a complete system for developing optimal health and higher awareness.

In the Ayurvedic system there are three “Constitutional Types” or “Doshas” of the physiological body:  Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.  These Constitutional Types reflect a psycho-physical model to help us balance the conditions of our body-mind complex. 

Each Dosha or Constitutional Type has both positive and negative qualities and is effected by food, environment, lifestyle, and exercise.  A balanced Dosha or Constitution brings happiness and ease, whereas an imbalance fosters discomfort or illness.

• Vata types are dominated by air but have a secondary component of ether.  Ether is the element of space, mainly in the bones and joints, which contains Vata in the body.
• With their fluctuating airy nature, Vata types have the weakest build and stamina, but also have the greatest capacity for change and adaptation in order to protect it.
• Fall is the Vata season.

•  Pitta types are dominated by fire but have a secondary component of water.   Water is the element of liquids, such as the hot liquids like the blood and digestive juices, which hold Pitta in the body.
• With their firey nature, Pitta types possess a moderate physical strength and stamina, but have a mental and emotional force and determination that can make them strongly pursue the factors of health or disease, depending upon their values.
• Summer is the Pitta season.

• Kapha types are dominated by water but have a secondary component of earth.  Earth is the element of substance, such as the lining of the skin and mucus membranes, which contain Kapha in the body.
• With their watery and earthy nature, Kapha types possess the strongest bodily build and reserve of vital energy, but can lack in the motivation and adaptation to use it properly.
• Spring is the Kapha season.

All of us have aspects of all three Constitutional Types apparent in our makeup, but one or two doshas will be most dominant in most people.  The reason we practice Ayurveda or Life Knowledge is to understand our unique makeup so that we might know which steps and which attitude to take in order to find balance in our constitution.

A gentle, slow asana practice evenly balanced on both sides of the body is an ideal exercise for Vata types.  Pittas benefit from asana practice to cool the head and the blood, calm the heart and relieve tension.  Kaphas need movement and stimulation to counter their tendency to complacency and inertia. 

Ayurveda does not look at asanas as fixed forms that by themselves either increase or decrease constitutional types.  It views them as vehicles for energy that can be used to help bring balance, if used correctly. 

So,  why not give it a try?  Take this simple overview of the Doshas, examine your constitution, and step on your yoga mat with a greater understanding of how you can practice to bring balance to your body and mind. 

Changing Habits

"The chains of habit are so light that you do not notice them until they are so strong that you cannot break them."  I first heard that statement from John Riley at Metro Bible Study.  Ominous thought, isn't it?  Lord knows, I've got plenty of strong links in the Habit Chain.  Fortunately, some of the links represent good fixations like brushing my teeth, eating healthy and exercising, but it's the other inclinations I'm tired of.  One strong link in particular begs for shattering Samson strength.     

"A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit."  Now this quotation from Erasmus, Martin Luther's contemporary and admirer, gave me hope.  Hope enough to send me off in search of a hammer and a nail. 

The old nail lodged in my wooden brain for way too long was the proclivity of TCT:  Thinking Critical Thoughts.  Critical thoughts about my diet, about my personality, about my friends, about my family, about many of the things God loves and created.  Well, I grew tired of being critical.  It's not fun.  It's heavy and exhausting like trying to swim a stormy ocean with clothes on.  I want to be free of the extra weight and bulk and chaotic fabric.  I want to cavort and swim naked with the dolphins in sun sparkle.

I decided it was time to lay the hammer down and birth a new addiction.  Time to beat out the spike of TCT with the anchor of POE, Praying Outrageous Encouragement.

At first I attempted POE for the one I was thinking critically about, but that was too big a step for a newbie like me.  My thoughts kept returning like a boomerang back to the same old rut in the mind road.  So I had to step back, way back, to Square One.  Instead of pounding POE for the person or thing that obviously Needs Work, bless her heart, I decided to tackle POE for something that was effortless... like my best friend or her daughter's wedding or my best friend's 50th birthday or my best friend's yoga business.  After all, applying POE for something uncomplicated more accurately matched my skill set.   

And didn't Jesus say "My yoke is easy"? 

So at present I'm following His lead and setting myself up for smooth success.  I'm allowing an elementary pattern to guide me.  Once I master POE for the obvious, then maybe I'll advance to a bigger hammer, a tougher nail, a more challenging blueprint.

And if John Riley was right, I won't even notice the storm shift until I'm regularly sun swimming in my birthday suit with Flipper.  :) 

                                              

Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.   

Proverbs 12:25 (NRSV)

Poses and People

Forward Bends:  Energetically calming.  Bring an inner perspective.  Not easy to do if you are stiff.

Back Bends:  Energetically charging.  Encourage an outer expression.  Not easy to do if you are weak.

Inversions:  Energetically balancing.  Require trust and courage.  Not easy to do if you are afraid.

Twists:  Energetically cleansing.  Detoxify and move the inner structure.  Not easy to do if you are full.

We need an assortment of poses in our practice if we are to be wholly healthy and well-balanced in our bodies and mindsets.  

The same is true about the people in our practice of life.

We need calming people to help us look inward, even if we don't want to.  People who can help us find the flexibility to bend, but not break.  These people are gentle souls who extend patience and tender guidance.  Do you have a Forward Bender in your life?  Who is s/he?

We need energizing people to motivate us, especially if we are under- or over-whelmed.  Back Benders identify specific goals and help us reach them by providing clear directions.  These people are bold and know themselves.  That's why they can help us find our own true, authentic voice.  Do you have a Back Bender in your life?  Who is s/he?

We need balancing people to bring us back to home base, back to alignment, back to center.  That's the only way fresh perspectives can come to problematic situations.  These people give us time to find True North.  Stand beside us in case we wavier or fall.  Help us back up again if we do.  Do you have an Inverter in your life?  Who is s/he?

We need cleansing people who are not afraid of our confessions but welcome them.  People who listen, watch and pray without poking or prodding or judging. People who understand how difficult letting go can be.  Do you have a Twister in your life?  Who is s/he?

And what about you?  

Are you a Forward Bender for someone?  Who do you gently guide into calm?

How about a Back Bender?  Who do you motivate?

Are you an Inverter?  Have you helped someone on the edge find balance lately?

Are you a Twister?  When's the last time you heard a confession and saw the sigh of relief that followed?

Poses and People.  So much we can learn from them.  So much we can offer.

 

Camas Lillies

Consider the lilies of the field,
the blue banks of camas opening
into acres of sky along the road.
Would the longing to lie down
and be washed by that beauty
abate if you knew their usefulness,
how the natives ground their bulbs
for flour, how the settlers' hogs
uprooted them, grunting in gleeful
oblivion as the flowers fell?

And you--what of your rushed and
useful life?  Imagine setting it all down--
papers, plans, appointments, everything--
leaving only a note:  "Gone
to the fields to be lovely.  Be back
when I'm through with blooming."

Even now, unneeded and uneaten,
the camas lilies gaze out above the grass
from their tender blue eyes.
Even in sleep your life will shine.
Make no mistake.  Of course
your work will always matter.
Yet Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.

--Lynn Ungar

Resting from Expectations

Lately I've been consciously practicing the challenging art of letting go, particularly letting go of expectations to get things done, now, my way.  Having expectations wears me out, and I'm ready to rest.  So I wrote this poem to inspire me.  Maybe if I let go of all the expectations I have for myself, I can also let go of all the expectations I have for others.  Now that would be restful, wouldn't it?


Let Rest Come

Let lists of still-to-dos
wait amidst piles in the office, letting go
of today before it turns into tomorrow.

Let dogs take up scratching
as husbands take up remotes
and beverages.  Let rest come.

Let counters collect mail lost
among card stock ads.  Let camomile tea steep
with its rising steam heralding soothing flavor.

Let birds go back to cozy nests.
Let glowing sun go down.  Let computer screens
go blank.  Let rest come.

To email unanswered, to phone calls
yet to be returned, to texts unread--
let rest come.

Let it come as Sabbath, and don't
resist.  God does not drive us
mercilessly, so let rest come.

Dayna Gelinas, August 1, 2013

Sacred Heart Monastery, Cullman, AL

The Lord is my shepherd...  He makes me lie down.

Psalm 23:1-2

From Steadiness to Freedom

     Recently I went to a yoga workshop weekend.  The emphasis was on steadiness and freedom.  “Freedom,” the teacher said, “only comes when there is steadiness.”  Each day he taught us how to find steadiness through alignment of our bodies so we could find freedom of movement in yoga postures.

     One of my favorite poses that we practiced was Supta Padagusthasana (Reclining Big Toe Pose).  We got into the pose and as we were lying on our backs, we took the right leg up and over to the left and held it there by holding onto a strap around the right foot with the left hand.  We then took our right arm out to the right, then reached over to the left, then out to the right, then over to the left, several times, back and forth.

     As we held to aligned steadiness, continuing to hold the right foot in the strap with the left hand, we discovered more and more freedom in our right shoulder. Soon the right shoulder blade was hugging the yoga mat as much as the left one.

     Freedom to expand and open the right shoulder came from the steadiness of holding the right foot in an aligned position with the left hand.

     As I lay there experiencing the wonderful easy tight challenging openness, I remembered a similar lesson on freedom that comes from steadiness:   "Jesus told the people who had faith in him, 'If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”'  John 8:31-32 (CEV - emphasis mine)

     Just as yoga helps me find freedom in my body’s joints and muscles through steadiness of alignment and consistent practice, so Jesus helps me find freedom in my soul as I hold steady to His mandates and apply them consistently, daily, to my life.  When tough questions bombard me, I go to Him for enlightenment.  I hold steady to His tutelage.  I exercise His precepts over and over again, until they are my own, and from that steady routine of obedience, I find wildly wonderful freedom.  

     As the yoga workshop came to a close a chant was sung in Sanskrit to Ram, the passionate, victorious heart.  Gathered in a semi-circle, everyone sat with eyes closed swaying to music and singing in unison.  It was a sweet melody and I love to sing, but for me the song was off base--Intoning praises to the heart of Ram contradicts Jesus’ teaching of the Greatest Commandment.  So I unobtrusively rolled up my yoga mat and left a bit early.

     By adhering to Christ’s instruction, I possessed freedom to not join in with the yoga crowd and chant the yoga song.  Freedom to leave ahead of time, without shame or apology.  Freedom to be confidently me, a daughter of Most High God.  

“Which is most important of all the commandments?”

Jesus  said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; 

so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ 

Mark 12:28-30 (MSG)