Inside Yoga 204 (23/5/2017)

Yoga can be seen to be many things, and to a certain extent it is, yet at its core there is one factor that holds it together – this is the requirement to concentrate. So are you paying attention, because I will explain why!

Whether we are doing physical exercises (asanas) or we are practising breathing techniques (pranayamas) we are expected to concentrate; we are asked to focus on our body and breathing with such a full focus that we are not distracted by thoughts or reacting to distractions such as sounds and smells.

We practice because concentration is not something that comes naturally to us, nor something we seem to maintain very well. So it takes repetition of the exercises and a determination to concentrate on one point, for example, our breathing, while we are practising yoga to improve and perfect our practice.

You could say that although I appear to be teaching exercises, I am really teaching people to concentrate, and while we are learning to concentrate we are doing some physical and breathing exercises.

In the original source texts of yoga, the sutras by Patanjali, there are 8 limbs (or parts) which are set out as being the essence of yoga; they might appear to sequential though in practice we seek to do them all at once. The first four are regarded as external practices, the first two parts are ethical guidelines, with the 3rd limb being asanas and the 4th limb pranayamas.

When highlighting the factor of concentration I am looking at the limbs which are regarded as the internal practice, which are the 5th limb, pratyahara, which is described as withdrawal of the senses including thoughts (our mind) which is a 6th sense – in other words freeing us of distractions of the senses; the 6th limb, dharana, concentration or complete attention; and 7th limb, dhyana, which is meditation.

We ned to quieten down everything in order to concentrate, hence pratyahara, and in order to do that, we must concentrate, and as a result of those two parts, we find ourselves meditating – the 7th limb.

It is this internal part of yoga practice which we seek to improve and perhaps perfect, not only in formal practice (ie when at a class or home practice) but also in daily life.

To read other blogs which refer to Patanjali’s sutras see links below:

Finding the balance

Yoga is meditation

How many yoga postures are there?

https://www.yogabristol.co.uk/2016/10/17/seeking-clarity/

https://www.yogabristol.co.uk/2016/10/03/look-at-your-self/

https://www.yogabristol.co.uk/2016/09/26/how-many-yogas-are-there-part-2/

How many yogas are there?

Yoga is not a workout

https://www.yogabristol.co.uk/2016/02/15/are-you-watching/

There are more if you wish to go further back through the archive of blogs.

Mind the gap

Over the last couple of weeks I have been teaching a meditation technique which helps improve our levels of concentration.

This exercise involves watching our breathing and noticing the gap between the breaths, when our breath has paused for a short moment. This is when our body is most quiet, and it also improves our concentration because if we are to notice the gap we need to be paying attention to our breathing.

Read previous blogs about the gap

https://www.yogabristol.co.uk/2015/06/15/mind-the-gap/

https://www.yogabristol.co.uk/2016/12/05/meditation-the-gap-between-thoughts/

Any questions or comments contact me via the blog reply panel below or email gary@yogabristol.co.uk
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