Namaskar - Oct 2006

Namaskar • A Voice for Yoga in Asia
Opinion
Doing what my
body wan
ants
Paul Dallaghan
A line often mentioned by students about
their practice is “I did what my body felt like
today”. I believe it is good to listen to the
body, as this indicates a highly developed
inner sense. If this sense is operating accurately then one
must have achieved a certain level in yoga.
I would say when the body is fatigued, or when there is a
fever, then this is the time to modify or not practice. But
what I often see is students ignoring signs telling them not
to practice , or more commonly, students using any
condition to change or back out of a practice.
Yoga is a powerful practice which has been given to us so
our true self may be revealed. Yoga says our true nature is
covered up by many layers, our thought processes and
ability to comprehend things are clouded. The path of yoga
has been passed on to help clean us up and pull us out of
confusion. We all have within us the capabilities and the
need to find this clarity, we just need to practice according
to the science of yoga.
It is self-defeating to say “I did what my body wants today”
as such an approach keeps one in the same rut, going
around in circles without any hope of growth. It is ego driven
to think that “I” know better and go against what those
wiser than us have passed on. The decision to not practice
or deviate from what your teacher has prescribed is usually
an emotionally-driven whim.
If one follows a prescribed course for a period of time, one
will see the results, observing rationally what needs to be
changed or done next. But when we fluctuate with daily
whims we achieve nothing.
In the Yoga Sutras, the authoritative text on yoga, Patanjali
points out the obstacles that get in the way of our practice.
They are physical ailment, lethargy, unreasonable doubt,
carelessness, laziness, undisciplined senses, imaginations,
inability to reach higher experiences, and non-retention of
the achieved experiences.
Practicing according to “how I feel” falls under these
obstacles. To conquer them Patanjali advises students to
practice sincerely over time, with a focused mind and
following the one-pointed practice a teacher has given you.
Patanjali acknowledges obstacles will arise and one must
practice to overcome them, even when one is injured.
Perhaps a period of rest is necessary, followed by
modification in practice. Through consistency and time the
physical or mental ailment is conquered. By practicing even
when we don’t feel like it, other obstacles aren’t given the
space to sprout up and affect us even more.
We should acknowledge that it is normal for the mind to
rebel and lead us astray. And then we should remember this
when the mind seeks variety, or a reason to not practice. If I
am weak or have a fever then to limit, or stop my practice is
justifiable. When I am not, then it is of most benefit to follow
the teacher’s instructions and just practice. The state of
yoga is a calm, undistracted mental state, ultimately beyond
the fluctuations of the mind.
There is typically a lack of understanding, by the student, of
the subtle inner process that is taking place during practice.
Only towards the end of a “clearing” or progression in their
practice is the process understood. Changing or stopping in
the middle of this inner change is like pulling a cake out of
the oven before it is ready.
So the practice of yoga focuses and calms the mind; in
essence it builds tremendous mental strength. This can only
be achieved when one follows the prescribed practice daily.
If we pull back the wheel of time and look out over, 10 to 20
years we will find much variation in practice. Yet we will see
that it has come from progression. A certain practice was
followed, a stage achieved, the next step moved on to, and
so on. But we can so often get stuck in the immediate and
suffer from this impatience and weakness of mind.
The truest and greatest benefit comes from following a
teacher-given practice each day. That practice then
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