Return to Stillness

As I began my sadhana this morning, there came a great sense of peace and stillness from the moment I stepped onto the mat.  Time was short as I didn't want to wake my son who was sleeping on the couch—family sleep–over—yet the time I was on the mat felt as though it lasted for days.  Why?  Breath.  Breath has such a profound impact on every posture.

Jai Bhagwan!

This is my sadhana journal/blog.  Visit my blog at Yoga At Om for my thoughts and views on Yoga both on and off the mat.

Morning Sadhana

Today I returned to a morning sadhana instead of immediately before class begins.  Joints were very stiff, muscles were tight and time was short; however, the impact of that hour cotinues to be immense.  Be diligent in your study of Yoga, spend time every morning on your mat studying and spend the rest of the day practicing what you have studied.

Jai Bhagwan!

This is my sadhana journal/blog.  Visit my blog at Yoga At Om for my thoughts and views on Yoga both on and off the mat.

Morning or Evening?

When is the right time to practice?  As I begin sadhana each morning, the joints creak and the muscles are stiff and the creaking and stiffness remain throughout.  As I begin sadhana in the evenings, there is some stiffness but it quickly fades.  The body, without question, is more supple in the evening.

Why begin sadhana in the morning then?  Why rise hours before dawn in the cold of the day?  There are practical reasons, morning sadhana leaves time in the evening that I may eat a meal with my family.  It also means that the effect of sadhana carries throughout the day.  Both are excellent reasons, although one is more excellent than the other but neither is the reason for morning sadhana.

It is easy and pleasant and good to walk the gently rolling and sunlit foothills.  It is impossible to see what is beyond the mountains by walking among the foothills.

Jai Bhagwan!

This is my sadhana journal/blog.  Visit my blog at Yoga At Om for my thoughts and views on Yoga both on and off the mat.

Long or Short?

How long should sadhana last?  Is an hour enough?  What about 30 minutes?  Is it possible to spend too much time?  What about two hours or three?  Bapuji spent 10 hours a day, what good is my 30 minutes when compared with that?

So, how long should sadhana be?  It should be sufficient.  If you have only 30 minutes you can devote to your sadhana, then 30 minutes must be sufficient.  If you have five hours free, that does not mean you must devote five hours to sadhana; rather, devote sufficiient time to still the mind but do not forget that you must continue to live everyday life as well.

If you are devoted to sadhana then you will find the unimportant things make way that there is sufficient time for your sadhana.

Jai Bhagwan!

This is my sadhana journal/blog.  Visit my blog at Yoga At Om for my thoughts and views on Yoga both on and off the mat.