GRACE AND COORDINATION
JANUARY 2, 2010: On the beautiful winter day after the beginning of a new decade I have been meditating about the relationship between Grace and Coordination. As we aspire to remain graceful in the way we coordinate our lives we will achieve that perfect balance. This is really what the Sutra 2.26 talking about Sthira and Sukha is getting at. That we find a peaceful way to effort and forward our lives. So on the mat we practice rhythmic breathing coordinated with movement to help release blockages or stuckness. This allows energy to flow in an optimal way and we feel mentally and physically balanced. We know what happens when we hold our breath from stress: our nervous system goes on red alert, there is a distress signal set off in the body/mind. However gentle flow of breath coordinating easy and even in and out makes us more relaxed.
One of my favorite definitions of how Hatha Yoga works is “Hatha Yoga increases energy by aligning our physical and subtle energy bodies, through physical poses (asana) and enhancing our life force through breathing practices (pranayama) and encouraging our sense inward through deep relaxation (pratyhara)." You see to live gracefully is whereby we keep returning to our center, that balance point. But it requires a great deal of spiritual courage to coordinate the sensitive adjustments required to maintain this. The sustaining part is the most difficult.
So here’s to the new year and wishing all of us much Grace and Coordination to find and KEEP to our center! Love, Silvia