…simply because there is no ‘there’. Yoga and Zazen have been a constant in my life for some years now, one of the biggest lessons I am learning is that there is no endpoint. Both Yoga and Zazen are non-attainment practices, in different, yet very similar ways.
“nowhere” by endre tót (1980)
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Posted in Meditation, Yoga
As part of Yoga teacher training we have a fairly long reading list, some books I love, some a bit less, and some really irritate me.
The sections I most resent are invariably about some kind of supernatural phenomenon, attainment or power. Stories of Yogis happily being buried alive for months, stories of energy fields, of chakras opening, of cancers cured and states of higher consciousness being attained. 
I actually came out in long and passionate rants about some of them (apologies to the poor folk I subjected to these!) and have several scribbles on the books like “bollocks!”, “really?!?!?!”, “get the feck out!” etc. Continue reading
Posted in Meditation, Yoga
As stupid as it may sound, Monday this week was a pretty momentous day for me because I managed to get into a (barely passable) rendition of the Urdhva Dhanurasana (upward facing bow) Yoga pose.
So what? Firstly – are we not supposed to cultivate a level of detachment from results? And also – a pose is a pose, right?
Well, yes and no. This is not just “a pose” we are talking about, no sir, this is the mother of all sucky poses, one invented by the forces of evil, specifically to make ME suffer!
Continue reading
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Posted in Yoga
“Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live.”
Audioslave
Over the years, I have often tried to find someone to take responsibility for my life: rock idols, partners, personal trainers, yoga teachers, an endless list. I don’t think I’m the only one; it’s a human thing. We all, at some point, look for this kind of reassurance; often asking that a figure that we consider of some authority show us the way. Continue reading
“I quit!”, he said as he stormed out of the Yoga Shala. – Well, not quite. But the other day I did have another one of “those” bad Ashtanga days.
So, I am 57 in a couple of days and, as a result of various accidents one of my legs is shorter, I have a replacement hip and several other bits of metal in my leg. So, yes, of course, I find Ashtanga really hard, right? Right?
Err, no, actually. My problems are just problems, like everybody else’s problems. And my sore legs are not deserving of any more pity or attention than anyone else’s sore legs.
And you know what, EVERYBODY has bad Ashtanga days.
So why is it SO hard sometimes? Continue reading
Posted in Yoga