The postures only become a spiritual practice when we endeavor, when we try to bring balance. In bringing balance, we’re actually bringing balance on all levels. For everything resides in this body. We are born in this body, everything resides in it. Once you start to bring balance, balance with the breath, you discover that you become more still, more quiet. After all, mind plays in the zone of the body and influences it. And these influences are seen and removed. If we are only doing postures, our imbalances continue to remain, and though we may become flexible and even feel better; the practice is not spiritual. Thus, svadhyaya is seeing all this, studying it. So, don’t be action oriented. See what is happening and sort out imbalances. We always solve them here and now. Not leaving them for tomorrow.
If it’s about balance, how can I put my body in such a situation that it is becoming imbalanced? Thus, when I put my body in difficult situations, I need time to bring that balance. This is called asana practice.
Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre
Yoga Master Teacher Sharat Arora
Article derived from the “Pranic Healing” Intensive Yoga Course
At the Himalaya Shanti Ashram in Dharamsala in October – November 2013
