YogaTalk

Practical reminders for ordinary splendour

OUR ARTICLES

THE SAVITRI GAYITRI MANTRA

 

Mantra yoga is the yoga of sound. Chanting helps to quieten the mind and soothe the nervous system, it is therefore used as a meditative aid; it’s a very peaceful practice and has nothing to do with inducing trance-like states!

The Savitri Gayatri comes from the Rig Veda, which was composed between roughly 1700-1100 BCE, making it one of the world’s oldest spiritual texts. This mantra is also cited widely in Vedic and post-Vedic texts. Gayatri is the name of the Vedic metre in which it was written. The metre comprises of 3 lines of 8 syllables. The Savitri is the most universally known Gayatri from a family of mantras.

It is a petition to Savitr the solar deity, or wherever we personally feel our life-giving energy comes from. It is a call from the heart for the benefit of all humanity. The first line of om bhur bhuvah swah is considered a preamble, an invocation which is not strictly part of the mantra itself.

This is my own take on the Gayatri – please do look into other interpretations as well. I am no physicist (obviously!), but I love to sense this in terms of vibration, light, wavelength and solar energy – a powerful directed surge to waken up the attuned awareness of a single person, community, city or whole nation – all the growing billions of us even. It drums quietly through my head quite regularly – especially during challenging times. I often find myself chanting it out loud in private – when I’m walking along or driving. Even though I have others in mind when chanting the Gayatri, I do find it really helps to both calm and inspire me, especially when the chant is repeated audibly for a few minutes. It’s especially delightful to chant with other people – quite a force:

 

om bhur bhuvah swah / tat savitur varenyam / bhargo devasya dhimahi / dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

We meditate upon our source of light and life so all may be enlightened

 

OM – Universal energy, primordial vibration

BHUR – earth, also the physical plane

BHUVA – sky, also the energetic plane

SWAH – heavens, also mental plane

TAT – that, also our greater underlying awareness and intelligence.

SAVITUR – the sun, the creative force, our source of life, all wavelengths of energy, even those signals beyond the light spectrum which we humans don’t pick up such as gamma and infra- red rays; also it refers to attuned awareness and perception.

VARENYAM – magnificent

BHARGO – inner light, wisdom

DEVASYA – divine, radiance

DHIMAHI – we meditate upon, may we attain

DHIYO – understanding the mental faculty which permits the flow of intuitive perception

YO – which, who         NAH – our

PRACHODAYAT – enlighten, awaken.

Listen to the mantra by pressing the arrow below

     

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OUR ARTICLES

ON WALKING

Our bodies are made for movement, which benefits all the physical systems; if lacking, we suffer greatly by its absence.

Not having to walk everywhere, especially when laden, is a labour-saving luxury of modern living – and too easily taken for granted. The benefit can also be a deprivation, robbing us of the free joy of walking as part of everyday life. This is an especial pleasure when hands-free, comfortably shod and without the pressure of rushing. Walking in fresh country air is a tonic, but an urban walk can still help blow the cobwebs away, if the air quality is half decent.

We can tell a lot by someone’s way of walking, it advertises their condition and frame of mind. What we were born like, what’s happened to us since, and how we are now, are all distilled into our present gait; and this in turn is setting patterns for how easily we will be moving in the future.

Mind-set is a major influence on a person’s ease of movement and bearing; affecting their whole self – how they breathe, how they hold muscular tension, their attitude and interactions with the world around them, and how they feel about themselves.

Conversely, as mental state influences manner of movement, so does that moving affect mental state – for better or for worse. So we all have the ability to influence how we feel by the way that we move, and vice versa.

A spring in the step helps improve the mood, whereas nothing positive will come of shuffling about in a state of collapse.

Awareness, attitude and lifestyle reflect on how we move. It’s unfortunately too common now for a person’s variety of movement to become more restricted with age. Consider the effect of taking very little exercise and sitting around too much – basically moving from bed to car to office to car to sofa and back to bed again for too many years.

If a body no longer moves in diverse ways it will soon forget how to, will no longer be able to. Then, tragically, the rich joy of free movement may remain at best a vague and elusive childhood memory.

Observation of many yoga practitioners confirms that the older person can move with the flourish and vitality of a child. Thankfully, subliminal lost movement can be restored, through conscious practice, till once again it becomes intuitive.

Mental state affects wellness. A positive person with physical restrictions can be more comfortable in their skin than one at peak fitness but with a gloomy state of mind.

One becomes as one repeatedly does. Habits, better or worse, can be easier to spot in others than in our own self. The gait speaks volumes. A mincing one may be consciously cultivated to present a character to the world, as may be the jaunty, athletic one, giving the impression of someone who takes life in their stride. The heaviness of a footfall is also revealing; so too is the pattern of wear on someone’s shoes.

A more attuned awareness helps us see the direction we, and others, are heading in. Many do have mobility problems by early adulthood; all the more tragic when earlier recognition could have helped prevent serious health issues.

Many people don’t actually like their feet, and many do unwittingly wear shoes which are too small, so the feet become accustomed to their discomfort. Footwear is obviously a brilliant invention which has had a massive positive impact on our success as a species; but apparently our modern feet are too dependent on our shoes. It seems that human feet are generally becoming more mobile but not as strong; we no longer have the bounce and find it harder to do without our shoes. Lack of variety in the surfaces we walk on also doesn’t help – floors, pavements, too much time in heels and too little time spent barefoot.

It‘s easy to blame the feet, rather than the way we are using them. What we do with one part always influences the function of the whole – a problem toe may cause us to walk badly which puts pressure on the leg and hurts the knee, our lopsided gait leads to a problem hip which causes back pain, then having to leave a job we love, depression sets in and things are not looking good – all because of one problem toe!

Appreciating the importance of how we walk is power in our hands. Positive change may take some time, or come to us in an instant.

A walk may be a mindless rush, with the major focus on getting somewhere. But we do have a choice, and this can determine our condition upon arrival.

 

Kit Hartley. Lidgett. May 2017

SEE A WALKING PRACTICE

 

 

 

 

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OUR ARTICLES

ON PAUSING

Life without pause is not a life worth living.

To pause is such a simple thing – regularly done it becomes apparent that pausing is an integral part of harmonious human living.

Pausing before action is the basis of awareness. A split-second pause might be enough to inspire life-saving reaction, to let simple easy solutions spring up suddenly as if from nowhere.

A pause could stop a person in their tracks – before they say or do something later regretted.

To be able to dash about enjoying a busy life is a wonderful thing, not to be taken for granted. But being busy does not make a life more meaningful.

Busy-ness is not the same as fulfilment or accomplishment.

Compulsive repetition of unnecessary tasks does indeed become an obsession for some people; even moderate habits can grow into problems.

A pause can lend more skill to thought and action, so that more of our choices serve us well.

Does keeping busy make people feel more useful?

Perhaps fear of seeing too clearly can make us steer us away from opportunities for solitary reflection.

Encountering our thoughts can sometimes be a frightening thing – the unfortunate, mind-numbing remedy being to deny ourselves the space to stop and think.

It’s very easy to preoccupy our minds with many things clutter. We can miss many fleeting present moments dwelling on the future or the past, or occupied in thoughtless tasks.

A pause is a space to rest and evaluate, to slow us down or rouse us from a slothful state. A sense of inertia can keep us moving steadily, unthinkingly on, in the same unwise direction… or it can stop us getting up to move altogether.

Our pauses are as natural as breathing, but like proper breathing are easily sacrificed to the unwelcome pressures of daily life. Lack of pause not only compromises perceptive awareness of what is happening around us – it robs us of opportunities to absorb the daily wonder which surrounds us and links us to the living world.

This is such an exciting time to live! Fast changes in technology keep us all on our toes and tenterhooks; tech devices are now so much part of daily action that we can hardly imagine life without them. We can access things rapidly by the click of a key. Data tracks us and seems to know our preferences. Huge effort is made by manufacturers and service providers to make their products seem irresistible – thus keeping us hooked.

We can access vast amounts of digital information, but nothing is quite the same as the mentorship of human contact. Too much time and energy spent on devices reduces our ability to form meaningful relationships – it’s just plain common sense to see that this is the case. If we are not selective in using technology we risk becoming disconnected from ourselves as well as each other.

Problems with short and poor quality attention span can be offset by simply stopping to notice what is happening, allowing time enough to restfully sit and focus on nothing very much. Pauses and daydreams are a welcome default mode for the brain. Lulls or short rests give us time to absorb or reflect. They can provide insight and lend greater ease to everyday tasks. If the lack of pause starts to show then we need to expose ourselves to the chance of it, until it becomes an intuitive part of daily life.

The more I teach yoga, the more apparent it becomes that too many of us are frazzled!

A healthy level of stress is a natural part of life, it gets us up and moving to satisfy urges such as hunger –but prolonged periods in a stressful state are damaging. Sadly this is far too common, and it makes people ill. Chronic stress can too easily become a familiar companion, so that we grow into our tempers, stoops and frowns.

Conscious and regular pause helps us become more self-attuned. Taking better notice helps us respond to the multiple stresses that we face on a daily basis. We can grow stronger, flexing rather than snapping under strain.

Why be afraid to pause, to step back, to see a brighter, bigger picture?

For this can only help us to make wiser decisions, to choose paths which serve us better. And it allows space for our less fearful, more impartial, more benevolent self to emerge, positively influencing behaviour and showing ourselves and others in a more kindly and compassionate light.

 

Kit Hartley.   Lidgett. May 2017

 

SEE PAUSE, CONSIDER, ENJOY

 

 

 

 

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OUR ARTICLES

ON STANDING

In a volatile world the successful species are those who can evolve fast enough to continue thriving in a changing environment.

Beside the long age of earth our own species is still very young. The human primate has evolved in a short space of time, through the merit of adaptability, to become the planet’s most creative and most destructive inhabitant.

We now stand erect on hind legs, balancing our large-brained heads, able to manually grip by virtue of long, opposing thumbs.

At peak, we humans are astounding. But looking around at each other now…

How well is our species? Are we thriving?

The protection lent by footwear and clothing has revolutionised what humans can do.

But not being barefoot, and over-reliance on the support of shoes, has robbed the feet of their natural spring-power and strength.

Too much walking on hard, flat, urban floors has left us less able to cope with mixed outdoor terrain.

Gravity keeps us rooted to the fast-spinning planet. Its force pulls us down whilst we then spring upwards like plants into sunlight. But this beneficial, grounding force does not always seem good; the head may feel a heavy burden for the upright spine, the body a weight to be dragged around. And with too much chronic strain life is not lived so well.

At such times, how one thinks, breathes and moves simply gets in the way of the natural well self.

Living bones are light, but when rightly used can have the strength of reinforced concrete.

One’s weight is easily borne when fit and well.

Bones do not just resist vertical pressure well – they actually benefit from it.

Shock-absorbing discs between spinal vertebrae help counter compression.

We are tallest in the mornings after a night’s rest, becoming shorter through the day.

Moisture loss from discs over the course of the day shortens the spine. A night’s rest gives time for thirsty discs to reabsorb this moisture.

Splendid rich movement in the course of the day gives additional restoration, plumping the discs up again.

Variety of movement and adequate rest reflect the ease or unease we then have in standing for any length of time.

A well, able-bodied person can easily balance, with effortless poise, the head’s weight on the top of the spine.

The spine’s curves are a spring for bouncing back – but with too much hardship in life these curves can develop too much or too little to give adequate support.

Without the spring in our step we are no longer able to absorb the shock of anything more than restricted basic movements.

How well we are becomes apparent when just standing still.

Our phenomenal body-mind can feel vibrant and vital, grounded but weightless, flexible and strong.

The spine is our tower of strength. When it isn’t, our freedom has gone.

 

SEE STANDING PRACTICE

 

 

Kit Hartley.   Lidgett.   May 2017

 

 

 

 

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OUR ARTICLES

ON RESTING

Rest is a lull from action – a period of some minutes sitting or lying in comfort, free from mental clamour or thoughts which disturb the mind.

Resting helps us thrive. The lack of it will make us restless and unwell. The full regenerative power of proper relaxation is often overlooked or undervalued as a vital part of health, despite its positive effect on everything we do.

When our life is out of balance it is also common to feel restless, and the things we eat or drink or do to help us relax might be making things much worse. We are naturally pleasure-seeking creatures, and can too easily do what does not serve us best!

When feeling under pressure and short of time, it is easy not to make the room for decent rest –even though a break will help us feel and function so much better that it saves time and energy in the long run.

Lack of proper rest is a major source of human suffering. Conscious repose is therefore a basic Hatha Yoga practice.

During rest, the mind has moments free from conscious thought. Organs function at their optimum rate. With the heart and breathing steady, the nervous system calmed and soothed, then the mind is quieter.

Such quality repose gives respite, where we can restore strength and renew vigour. It improves the mental state so we are less over-reactive at other times.

By taking care we become more aware of how things can drain our energy and make us vulnerable to malaise.

Holding unnecessary and habitually unconscious muscular tension can indeed wear us out. The mind and body are part of each other; where there is muscular tension there is also mental. It is a vital part of human make-up. But in chronic excess it is a common bane of life, much more than people realise.

Many do not know that holding on to tension causes hurt, not just to themselves but to others. A tightening reaction to a situation influences our response, over-reaction being a common cause of conflict. Hence the aim to be free of this is a worthy part of daily life.

Rest is distinct from sleep. But while resting, there may well be pleasant moments drifting between wakefulness and slumber. An optimum nightly period of deep sleep helps keep us well. But it is possible to be restless and asleep. It is possible to sleep in pain. It is possible to sleep with such tension that teeth are ground away. Holding tightness during sleep means waking up exhausted.

A simple focus for attention at the beginning of rest will aid relaxation. Bringing the mind to settle on just one or two things reduces mental fluctuation.

Stirring up emotion is un-restful, so this focus should be neutral, such as the breath, the hands, or some non-evocative sound. A visualisation needs careful choosing, so that it does not set off a train of thought.

How much quiet is needed for rest can depend on the frame of mind and the individual. What is background sound to one could be distraction to another. Sounds heard should not stir us by the listening. Eyes tend to close, but softly gazing into the back of closed lids can help focus attention.

Thoughts may come and go while resting. Observing thought waves can be a conscious practice. At rest, one can be aware of thoughts, of their frequency and intensity, without being spurred by them into more thinking. In skilful rest one is not roused by, or attached to, the kind of thought one has; they remain as mental fluctuations, like clouds drifting across our mental sky.

Prolonged minutes of wakeful rest, with thought waves pleasantly absent, may be regarded as meditation. This can happen with the eyes open but not looking. A lowered gaze helps keep the mind from distraction. And any aural or visual input needs to be non-evocative.

Slipping into the rapture of meditation does not come from trying not to think. It is a mental state, inherent from early age, which can happen spontaneously – if we allow space for it to happen.

At such times one is unaware of breath or body unless they demand attention.

Minutes of meditation can compensate for hours of lost deep sleep.

Daydream, rest and meditation are a welcome default setting for the brain. Such wakeful disengagement from daily action can foster insight and creative thinking. It can produce effortless inspiration. And, out of this void, solutions to weighty problems can appear without bidding.

 

Kit Hartley.   Lidgett.   May 2017

 

 

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