Beyond Asana

When practicing asana, many try to pack as much activity into their sadhanas as possible. This makes them feel that they've received the maximum value for their time invested. And logically, it seems like more work should produce superior results.

Similarly, many musicians try to impress themselves and/or others by packing as many notes as possible into their solos. And those who judge music intellectually might be impressed by this. However, those who are lured by music's aesthetic qualities will naturally glean that the truly talented artists play the silence as much as the notes.

Likewise, a skillful yogi understands that intuition, stillness and ease are as important as alignment, movement and dynamic expression.

Although, to many, this may sound counter intuitive, some will instinctively sense the truth in these words. The truth that the wisdom of the body, and that wafting through the air, are as valuable as anything that the mind can grasp or contain. Even for those who accept this, it can take years to move from accepting the concept to fully employing it.

It's just one in an endless string of lessons along the way. But it's a profound one that opens the door to an otherwise inaccessible field of potential insights.

There can be no yoga (union of body, mind and spirit) as long as the ego insists on maintaining its dominance. As long as practice is solely about going through the steps, about following given guidelines to a predetermined goal. It's ironic that once the ego relinquishes rigid control, its wishes are granted more quickly and comfortably - with unexpected bonuses. But that's how it is.

Sure, one can improve his/her performance of the postures with diligent practice. But practicing asana is not practicing yoga. Asana practice makes for a healthy body. Yoga practice makes for a healthy mind. Together, they make for a fuller being, greater connection to living and a more gratifying life.