Our Real Challenge: Addressing the Whole Human

The sequence and order of our work is meant to invite change that lasts, and that can't be accomplished through temporary diets or restrictions. We also want to invite transformation across the whole person, but we need to understand the pieces that comprise that whole. In this short video, I offer two systems for understanding the self you are trying to change, and offer ideas about how to continue to prepare for your challenge.

Using Yogic Philosophy to Support Us: Tapas

Tapas, sometimes characterized as austerity, is the quality of choosing actions that move us toward vitality and vibrant health, especially those that focus on training the body and mind. Tapas is the inner voice that keeps you committed, the voice that defeats the part of you that wants to stay comfortable as opposed to expending energy on change. Tapas is grit, determination, fire. Along with gratitude and devotion, tapas helps us create the right conditions for success.

Reflective Practice

Thinking about the two systems from the video that offer us a way for understanding the whole person (Body, Ego, Others, Beyond + the koshas), reflect on the following questions:

Which aspect of yourself is most balanced?
Which is most in need of focus and care?
Do you tend to stifle, stuff, or silence any parts of yourself?
Which of the koshas are you most connected to? Which feels the most cut off?

Thinking about tapas:
What fires you up? What could inspire you to stay focused and commited to your change when your body would rather you didn't?

Yoga Nidra: A Guided Body Practice

Yoga Nidra is a practice to help you access the state between waking and sleeping. The body is completely relaxed, and your awareness rests in your inner felt experience. It is different from meditation that focuses on a single point of awareness, as your consciousness will move around according to the verbal instructions.

Yoga Nidra is not an energizing practice, but a deeply relaxing one. At the same time, practitioners often report feeling refreshed after their practice. Yoga Nidra is sometimes called "yogic sleep" for this reason. Set aside about 30 minutes for this practice, guided by the audio below.

Get on Your Mat & Move Your Body

Use your pass this week to get to a class, perhaps one that is different from what you might normally do. See if you can also spend some time practicing at home, whether practicing with a video, exploring downward facing dog and seeing where your body takes you from there, or bringing your legs up the wall and focusing on your yogic breathing for 5 minutes.