
Among other things, I always find the philosophy talks very stirring. So I took some notes,mingled them with how I understood it and share it with you here.
Today Ronald took a bit of time discussing the three qualities allowing for a more balance approach for any activity (in this case during yoga practice). These three qualities are: motivation / enthusiasm / heat (tapas), self-study / self-observation (svadhyaya) and expressing life / divinity (isvarapranidhana).
"The stae of balance" is rather a continuous seeking of balance (through these three qualities) - as nothing is ever in fully in balance but attracted to (more or less) one side of the poles (e.g. tight - loose).
For the yoga practice on the mat, it's meaningful to let those three qualities act jointly in oder to guide us in the process of seeking balance between doing too much (pushing to hard) and doing (what Ronald refers to:) wellness moves:
- tapas (getting on the mat on most days of the week, a steady practice),
- aligning the practice with what feels good for us, what would make us more alive,
- all under continued self-study and reflection.
Importantly, this aligning of those three qualities shall be applied frequently for it to be effective.
Now, this is only talking about practice on the mat, those 30 - 100 minutes most days of the week.
But the yoga is not (just) the mat. For the most part is should be transparent during "the stuff" that's so abundantly happening outside the mat: Your job, your relationships, your communication with others and yourself, etc. Bringing that tapas, svadhyaya and isvarapranidhana to all, how ever small, aspects of our lives! Waou. Sounds eternally challenging, yet utterly powerful, harbouring endless potential.
The mat is a safe playground to start from.