Living Unplugged
In the matter of two weeks my washing machine, car alternator, computer and camera broke. Thank God for Holy Yoga! These are the times we take our practice off our mat and breathe. As a stay-at-home momma of two boys under four, wife of very busy husband who owns Five Loaves Café and Sesame, and part time yoga teacher, I couldn’t help but have a pity party and thought, “If one more thing breaks, I think I am going to break too!”
True test of character is revealed in the midst of stress. An unknown author wrote, “Peace doesn’t mean to be free from noise, hard work, or trouble, but it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” Despite the inconvenience and frustration, the light bulb goes off inside that I can’t change my circumstances, but I CAN change my mind about them. These external sources which we need of course to make our lives run efficiently when removed teach us something about our reliance on our internal source and humility in asking others for help. If none of those things had broken, I would have missed out on the humbling opportunities of bringing my clothes to a friend’s to wash, or receive rides home with my kids, and experience the willingness of those around me to lend a helping hand.
So what does life look like when the things we rely on daily are removed? It can become a living experience off the mat of withdrawal (pratyahara), the fifth limb of the yoga which is part of the Eight Limb path to wellness. I refer to it as the “AA”approach to yoga. I personally realized how much unnecessary time I spent on the computer and how living unplugged allowed me more precious present time with my loved ones. A check here and check there of emails, Facebook, etc., add up and this time has been truly enlightening in the fact that it is much easier to live without something then it is to live with something and create boundaries. The first limb of yoga Yama means “restraint.” MMMMMMM….The challenge is now: can we live unplugged and be plugged in at all times? “We can through Christ who strengthens us.” So refreshing to know that in our weakness, He is The Source of Strength. It is through the noise, hard work and trouble that we experience deeper spaces of gratitude and thanksgiving for all that is.
Peace and Health,
Rachel Glowacki, RYT
5 Daily Invitations to live unplugged
1. Avoid cell phone use while driving… (I know. So hard!) Commit to at least one route a day and observe your commitment.
2. Depending on your profession, consider what works best for you and discipline self to a daily AM and PM time of checking e-mails, Facebook, Twitter, and surfing the net.
3. When we look at the clock, may it remind us that The Creator Himself is the author of all time.
4. When our phone batteries run out, call on the Lord.
5. Find a silent yoga class or create one at home that moves to the rhythm of the breath instead of music.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Can you clarify Ashtanga Yoga (I assume you refer to Master Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga-eight limbed path)and it’s relation to “wellness”. What exactly do you mean wellness.
What do you mean “AA” approach.
Thanks
Mark
November 17th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Namaste Mark,
Thank you for asking me to clarify, forgive me readers for assuming that you already know what “The Eight Fold Path” is! Yes, that is what I was referring to…
Ashtanga literally translates “eight limbs.” (astha=eight, anga=limb). The yoga sutras have been threaded by sage Patanjali Maharishi as the first scripture to yogic philosophy written and explained to students dating back between 220 B.C and 200 A.D.
Patanjali blessed us with the yoga sutras as a moral code that leads to wellness or wholeness. The eight limbs branch off into ethical laws (Yamas), spiritual oberservances (Niyamas), physical disciplines (Asanas), breath control (Pranayama), internal awareness (Pratyahara), concentration (Dharana), meditation(Dhyana), and transcendence(Samadhi).
The Eight Limbs like the 12 step program for “AA” guide a person along to wellness, a quality or state of well being in mind and body. Well meaning whole or peace within. The Eight Limbs on the other hand hinge upon another to where all of them can be experienced at one time, less like a ladder of step by step, but more of a integrated whole, like the movement of our limbs. The arm, shoulder, socket, elbow, wrist and hand, all hinge upon another and work together as the whole arm. I listed the “AA” steps below and there we will find that both paths intention is to live with an awakened heart. And that is why we find ourselves on our mats, to experience more peace and joy. : )
AA Steps
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Beautiful. It’s always amazed me how 12 Step programs mirror Master Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. They both end in a spiritual awakening too! Really good article Rachel. I do however beg to differ on “…yoga sutras as a moral code that leads to wellness or wholeness.”
I understood Maharṣi Patañjali Yoga Sūtra to be a scripture which discusses overcoming the mental obstacles to enlightenment, contained in these is the moral code. Yama and Niyama, महाव्रतम् mahāvrtam, or Great Vows as explained in YS II.31. I also think it’s important to note that the order is very important. Specifically, one must practice Yama, then Niyama and so forth. For example, one cannot move towards Yoga and realization of Oneness, or Wholeness (Samādhi), if one is eating others, or enslaving others. Thus the first vrtam or vow is अहिम्सा ahimsā. We can practice Asana, hold our breath, swallow cloths, pour water up our noses नियमाः niyamāḥ, concentrate and meditate, but if our foundational believe is seperateness, how can we make progress?
What do you think?
November 18th, 2009 at 10:01 am
So true and very heartfelt Mark. Thank you for bringing to light that the only way to make progress is starting within the attitude or judgments of the heart by not harming ourselves or others. Yes, it is true according to the SUtras that one must start with Yama and then so forth, and I believe in that orderly process it will lead one to wellness or wholeness. I think that within the limbs, one can experience all of them at one time, so that they are not separate. You are right on to point out they have order and perhaps this will inspire your next post? : ) I personally have experienced each limb as a whole, glimpses and moments if you will, by no means have attained or mastered them. They are all daily invitations to look at oneself and requires effort and surrender. So I think it is both , but the first step of anything is accepting with gentleness. I love that we can dialogue and share the beautiful gifts that yoga offers, and honor all paths/styles/interpretations as well,it will take us one step closer to oneness. And I believe that we can agree to disagree too with light and love. I look forward in hearing more of your thoughts on this blog. Peace and Health-Rachel : )
November 18th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Likewise. Funny you should mention it….
Look out for my article. It is nice to speak with others who appreciate the works of Master Patanjali. It is after all that which all Yoga must be based upon.
Mark
November 18th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Amen to that! I just finished a 15 page article for Holy Yoga how the Eight Limbs parallel the Bible. My path of yoga is with Jesus at the heart center and how this ancient and sacred practice can lead one to a deeper connection with our beloved Creator. Yoga has become a prayerful expression with my whole being and so grateful that not only do I experience it but also get so share and teach it as well. I so look forward in reading your article and see it through your lenses. We all have our own set in which we filter these teachings. Have the best day ever. : )