Compassion
At the very core of Kripalu yoga is compassion. Many people seem to think compassion is easy. If that were the case, why is the world the way it is? There is a quote featured prominently at the Kripalu yoga center:
"The highest form of spiritual practice is self-observation without judgement"
Swami Kripalu
Swami Kripalu
The amount of time and practice it takes to simply observe oneself with no judgement is mind boggling. We are constantly judging anything and everything. We judge ourselves almost constantly and we judge others just as much. It is very challenging to simply observe yourself with no judgement.
Self-acceptance and compassion towards yourself are two of the more intriguing rewards that can be gained from a consistent yoga practice. Being at peace in the current moment regardless of external circumstances is one of the primary aims of mindfulness practices. Being at peace starts with compassion towards yourself.
This incredibly moving scene from Breaking Bad sums it up nicely:
Self-acceptance and compassion towards yourself are two of the more intriguing rewards that can be gained from a consistent yoga practice. Being at peace in the current moment regardless of external circumstances is one of the primary aims of mindfulness practices. Being at peace starts with compassion towards yourself.
This incredibly moving scene from Breaking Bad sums it up nicely:
How do we remain compassionate towards ourselves after hurting the ones we love? How do we remain compassionate towards others who hurt those we love, or hurt the weak and vulnerable? It's supposed to be compassion for all. How do we do that?
I think the answer is yoga and meditation but it is going to take a lot of it. It's going to take a whole lot more than we are currently doing now.
My yoga practice has certainly helped me be more compassionate towards myself and others but I'm by no means perfect. I've gotten a lot better but I am still making judgements in my head about things. I may hear the latest news scandal and immediately my mind jumps to "guilty" or "innocent" based on nothing but my preconceived notions and biases. No facts, no research, no first hand account of anything being discussed and my mind will still leap happily to whatever conclusion satisfies my confirmation bias.
I find the more I practice yoga and meditation the less I do this. For example after spending time at the Kripalu center when I see the news I don't have much of a reaction to it. I "see" it there but there is far less judgement. I simply take in what is being said with much less "noise" going on my brain.
Reducing the chatter of the brain is one of the main aims of yoga. It is one of the first lines of the yoga sutras. This process is sometimes called "calming the monkey mind" because the mind is similar to a monkey jumping and swinging from tree to tree. It's all over the place. Meditation practices help us focus the mind so we can maximize it's power. It takes a great deal of practice but the results are worth it.
A fun way to test this out is to watch the news while focusing intently on your breathing. Sitting in a comfortable posture engage your yoga breath and continue returning your focus to your breath anytime you notice your mind wondering. Notice if performing this breathing exercise while watching the news changes your reaction to it in anyway.
Keep in mind any minor discomforts you feel in your yoga practice are great opportunities to practice self compassion. Notice the discomfort, breath right into wherever it is, and keep a strong yet relaxed focus on that spot as you continue to focus on breathing "into" that spot.
I think as you practice being more gentle with yourself in your physical yoga practice you will find yourself doing the same in other areas of life as well.
I think the answer is yoga and meditation but it is going to take a lot of it. It's going to take a whole lot more than we are currently doing now.
My yoga practice has certainly helped me be more compassionate towards myself and others but I'm by no means perfect. I've gotten a lot better but I am still making judgements in my head about things. I may hear the latest news scandal and immediately my mind jumps to "guilty" or "innocent" based on nothing but my preconceived notions and biases. No facts, no research, no first hand account of anything being discussed and my mind will still leap happily to whatever conclusion satisfies my confirmation bias.
I find the more I practice yoga and meditation the less I do this. For example after spending time at the Kripalu center when I see the news I don't have much of a reaction to it. I "see" it there but there is far less judgement. I simply take in what is being said with much less "noise" going on my brain.
Reducing the chatter of the brain is one of the main aims of yoga. It is one of the first lines of the yoga sutras. This process is sometimes called "calming the monkey mind" because the mind is similar to a monkey jumping and swinging from tree to tree. It's all over the place. Meditation practices help us focus the mind so we can maximize it's power. It takes a great deal of practice but the results are worth it.
A fun way to test this out is to watch the news while focusing intently on your breathing. Sitting in a comfortable posture engage your yoga breath and continue returning your focus to your breath anytime you notice your mind wondering. Notice if performing this breathing exercise while watching the news changes your reaction to it in anyway.
Keep in mind any minor discomforts you feel in your yoga practice are great opportunities to practice self compassion. Notice the discomfort, breath right into wherever it is, and keep a strong yet relaxed focus on that spot as you continue to focus on breathing "into" that spot.
I think as you practice being more gentle with yourself in your physical yoga practice you will find yourself doing the same in other areas of life as well.