Why is it that whenever I mention Yoga, no one associates mindfulness and meditation with it? Modern Yoga has evolved away from the goal of Traditional Yoga, which is self-realization. Most people identify ‘mindfulness’ and ‘meditation’ as a practice within Buddhism, when they are important aspects of many eastern spiritual paths, including Yoga. Mindfulness is not exclusively Buddhist…please remember this.

Why even write a blog about this?

Because, as a Yoga-based counselor, I focus on the Yoga practices that are beyond the poses and off the mat. I focus on practices that specifically cultivate mindfulness and lead my clients to being able to sit and meditate. These are the practices I have found that actually refine and transform the mind. To not understand the full scope of Yoga and reduce it to tools and techniques for the body is a huge disservice to anyone who is drawn to Yoga.

PARTS DONT MAKE UP THE WHOLE

It’s like saying the Culinary Arts are only based in French Cuisine. French Cuisine is wonderful in its own right, but it’s only one aspect of the Culinary Arts. A chef would miss out on so many amazing other food combinations and flavors that could create a culinary masterpiece.  I wouldn’t reduce the Culinary Arts, so why reduce Yoga to only a body practice?

Mindfulness is the first part of a self-awareness practice. It helps to create self-understanding, make conscious choices, practice self-compassion, and many other inward skills start from learning how to be mindful.

MINDFULNESS AND YOGA

From Patanjali Yoga Sutras (PYS), mindfulness, or self-awareness, begins to be emphasized from the very start of Ashtanga Yoga – the 8 components of Raga Yoga. Raga Yoga is Yoga for the Mind and a meditative path. It starts with the ethical principles called Yamas and Niyamas. In order to study and practice these principles, self-awareness has to be cultivated.

The goal of Yoga according to PYS is “complete cessation of all thought waves.” This can not happen if we only live with an external view, i.e. consumed by the material world. If you want a calmer mind and more peace in your life, you must start to become aware and mindful of yourself…at least according to PYS.

Mindfulness is also present in all the other 6 components of Raga Yoga: Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. Self-awareness continues to deepen at each level until one realizes True Self, True Nature, or Pure Consciousness.

LET’S GET PRACTICAL

Now, it’s all good if you’re like, “But I just want to have a calmer mind. I don’t care about self-realization. It’s more important to me that I stop overreacting and feeling guilty about my reactions.” Practicing mindfulness/ self-awareness is still going to be a part of this process.

And Yoga, if your Yoga class resonates with you, can be the path towards this goal.

Here are some suggestions to start incorporating into your Asana (pose) practice to cultivate mindfulness or self-awareness:

1. Let your breath guide your movements. Follow your breath instead of your breath trying to keep up with the movement. The breath is the most important tool in calming the mind.
2. Use a positive statement that you repeat on the exhale like, “I am calm and at peace,” “I am present,” or “I trust myself.” This focuses and calms the mind.
3. Pause and notice. Mindfulness happens in daily life when we pause and notice. Use your Yoga Asana practice as a way to consciously practice pausing. This can be done after each pose or after a sequence of poses. Notice breath, body sensations, thoughts, and emotions. 

Here’s a Yoga Asana practice on my YouTube Channel to try that incorporates #1 and #2 so you can experience what I’m talking about.

Remember that Yoga, at the heart, is a mindful-based path that traditionally uses meditation at the heart of connecting to True Self.

Namaste.