In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali there is a list of “obstacles and distractions” we are likely to face when pursing the ongoing practice of yoga + meditation:
Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground and slipping from the ground gained—these distractions of the mind-stuff are the obstacles.
Translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda (p. 77). Integral Yoga Publications. Kindle Edition.
Without going into great detail or scrutiny of each obstacle listed here I simply want to point out that the facing of these obstacles in no way means failure. It’s quite the opposite, I believe the Yoga Sutras tell us this list so that we can be fully prepared to face each one if we must. The obstacles are necessary and inevitable, they are not to be avoided!
Surely we don’t need to face each obstacle each day, but we should be prepared to. With practice we learn that what is easeful one day can become taxing the next. What IS that?! It’s life and it’s the very reason for practice. I have seen so many people fall off daily practice of yoga because of the last in this list, “slipping form the ground gained”. There is this (mis)belief that the more we practice the more we should progress, and so I see a lot of students become discouraged or doubtful when they stop making “progress”. All of my teachers have taught me that this is dangerous… As soon as we have expectations about how the practice makes us feel, or what it will be like, or how long it will take, or anything at all, we set ourselves up for a possibility of not meeting those expectations. NEWS FLASH: yoga + meditation practices are not ones you “finish”. While there are a million certifications and achievements out there, the practice of Yoga is one designed to outlive you in this lifetime. If you feel like it’s taking “too long” or you’re not moving “fast enough” I urge you to take practice.
For the first few years of my practice I struggled with “intention”. I low-key hated the idea that my practice was attached to something else. So I eventually let it go. My intention is PRACTICE; 99% of the time this is my focus and it has been the most liberating mind shift of my life. And guess what… it even applies off the mat.
The empowering part is I can cultivate words and mantra withing this container of practice. If my mind is feeling chaotic I can think of peace, shanti. If my body feels sluggish I can visualize some fire, agni. If my heart feels heavy I can fill it with light + love, samadhi. The practice is all fulfilling, and it’s eternal, and that’s the whole point.
So whether you practice every day, or you’ve never thought about “yoga practice” in your life, or maybe it’s been a lifetime sine your last practice… Here’s a little reminder, your practice lacks judgement. True practice exists in the spaces of empowerment, honesty, alignment, clarity and peace. It’s available in the blips between the chaos, and it’s possible when we practice it, again and again.
Practice ON, amigos!