Illness

Ill Health tends to negate the cohesive forces that link and hold the body in being; while Yoga, reversing this tendency, is conducive to wholeness and well being. We all know that when influenza strikes, how lack lustre and negative that the body feels; with many voices persuading us to do as little as possible. The body is alive with contrary wills, usually kept in check when we are fit and well, and which rise to the surface when we lack the energy to oppose them. Yoga is essentially discovering yourself as Will, and bringing yourself back to the “Here and Now”, so that you stand in full consciousness, able to deal with the hidden persuaders, from whatever direction they come.

The negative effects of illness can be such that Hatha Yoga is not the first thing that comes to mind; and yet, just one posture, the easiest in our repertoire, will start to bring about a positive change, by tying together loose ends and coordinating Mind, Feeling and Will; So that the whole body can be guided toward a more positive state of being.

Jnana Yoga. Cannot be divorced from Yoga as a whole and is more than the accumulation of knowledge for its own sake and can be the means of adjusting thought process toward a more positive frame of mind. A clear idea, fully understood, is a formulation of spirit, and when the focus is on the ideal yoga posture, it organises the energy within the body towards achieving its aim.

Every idea carries an emotional or feeling charge, therefore if we love what we are doing, the more effective we can be. At the highest level Truth and Love are intimately related, as Truth lays at the heart of Love, hence the ability of the Bhakti Yoga to look into the heart and discern the Truth that lies within.

Purity of heart is to will one thing and to achieve the highest we have to first attain unity of being, and the single posture can be the start of an apprenticeship along a road to Raja Yoga and Self determination, in which Mind, Feeling and Will, bring the body back into perfect accord.

Hatha Yoga is not an exercise program that blindly follows repetitive exercise routines; as each individual is unique, and not unlike Arjuna the charioteer is in charge of their own vehicle of experience. Hatha Yoga brings light to bear on the body as a whole, and helps with the return to both psychological and physical health. Yoga Postures can be sitting, lying down or standing. Asana implies use of the mind and elevates the term Posture to a higher level.

The Integral approach to Asana is to first still the Mind and return to the ‘Here and Now’; then to visualise a perfect Posture as a goal to be achieved. Then holding the form of the Posture in the Mind, to send Good feeling into the body, so as to energise the appropriate muscle groups and prepare the body; next to Initiate and guide the body in full awareness towards its goal. This psychosomatic approach is of particular benefit when there is disharmony in the nervous system. The following meditation will also help re-balance and re-harmonise each level.

Meditation

Centring at the level of the abdomen, visualise and repeat the word ‘Good.’ Then at the heart (Feeling) level, visualise and intone the word ‘Love’. Then at the head (Ajna), visualise and repeat the word ‘Truth. Then repeat the whole sentence; it is Good to Love Truth.

Reverse this process with Truth at the level of the head. Love at the level of the heart and Good at the drive or belly centre. Aware of each level as you repeat True, Love is Good.

It is important that head and spine is perfectly balanced, yet free of tension during the meditation.