Samāna jayāt
Equal days and nights - taking time to find balance, like our planet
How are you finding balance these days?
Thank you all for coming to Huntington's Walk for Hope and Wellness. Those who actively struggle with mental health and addiction, although they may feel so, are far from alone on this journey. Each of us practicing yesterday either actively struggles, or did, or has a close association who does. And some of us have close relations who lost their lives in the struggle. This is why we practiced, walked, talked, listened and showed up, and will continue to.
Each of us is walking, stumbling, running and forging our own twisted path with Yoga as our beacon, to light our way and share with others. Samāna is a word which refers to balanced, equal. Certain Yoga practices may induce this sense of feeling leveled out, always with a teacher’s guidance, as experience varies from person-to-person. The three pillars of Yoga and how to tailor them to elicit more balance in our days and nights.
With Āsana, taking some extra time during practice in your sama sthiti classification āsana-s aids in cultivation of balance. Sama sthiti, śavāsana, sukhāsana, vajrāsana, siddhāsana, svastikāsana.
In your Prāṇāyāma practices, use sama vṛtti, equalizing the components of the breath that are being used, in consultation with your teacher. Never sacrifice the length of the breath for its smoothness, as it defeats the purpose of creating the breathing pattern characterized by the dual qualities of dīrgha and sūkṣma.
When it comes to meditation, this month we are focusing on a calm lake. Although we are using Lake Manasarovar, it’s namesake being calm mind, you can find a picture, visit a lake or even remember one. Use it as a meditative subject. Feel its serene essence wash over your mind.
Chanting as a meditative tools will take you far and renew your calmness, each and ever time, if the mantra is balancing for you. One of the balancing mantra-s to chant is one all Yoga Foundation students will be familiar with by now, Ȯm. Another, similarly is Namaḥ. Use them aloud, softly and mentally to find your balance.
October will bring on two new courses, Trauma Informed Yoga for a Calm Mind and Body, taught by Kathleen Zadrozny, and Yoga Therapy for a Calm Mind and Body, taught by Danielle. Look for more classes like this, because the only good stress is the kind we can process, learn with and grow from - and that's what we'll do.