Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Natalie's website
Check out my beautiful website www.nataliegyoga.com, designed by the talented Joseph Ginapp. It contains my full schedule, weekly classes, workshops, retreats as well as photos and more information about my background. Namaste!
Atha yoganusasanam: Be here now!
The Yoga Sutras, yogas main philosophical text, stems from an oral tradition that was codified in 500 C.E. This text is the foundation for every style of yoga that exists. It outlines the yoga practice in 195 lines and signifies that yoga is mainly a practice of meditation. Beyond meditation, the Yoga Sutras explain what it is like to be a human being, showing our common struggles and how to navigate through them.
As in most Eastern texts, the Yoga Sutras begin with the most important pieces of information related to the text and then spend the rest of the time explaining the core concepts. It is said that if you deeply understand the first word of the first line (sutra) of the Yoga Sutras, you understand the entire text and therefore, the practice of yoga.
So what is the first line of the Yoga Sutras? As perhaps you have guessed, indeed, it is 'atha yoganusasanam'. Atha means now. Yoganusasanam means yoga instruction or advice. So 'atha yoganusasanam' means 'now, the instruction of yoga'. This indicates that the Yoga Sutras are not merely a philosophy but direct instruction on how to practice yoga. The first word we are given in the text is the word now. This indicates that the practice of yoga is being here now, present, alive and awake for whatever now brings you.
What would your life be like if you were constantly present? What if you could let go of any distress, sadness or rage you feel because of memories and choices in your past? What if you let go of your anxiety, fear or doubts about the future? How much room would you have in your life for joy? Pretty deep stuff.
When I was living in Santiago during college, I remember a beautiful period of time in my life that I was really living this Sutra. Although I had heavy situations and choices looming in my personal life, I was wide awake. I don't know if it there was something in the water, but despite the stress of school, family medical problems and relationship turmoil, I was clear, confident and enjoying my life.
As in most Eastern texts, the Yoga Sutras begin with the most important pieces of information related to the text and then spend the rest of the time explaining the core concepts. It is said that if you deeply understand the first word of the first line (sutra) of the Yoga Sutras, you understand the entire text and therefore, the practice of yoga.
So what is the first line of the Yoga Sutras? As perhaps you have guessed, indeed, it is 'atha yoganusasanam'. Atha means now. Yoganusasanam means yoga instruction or advice. So 'atha yoganusasanam' means 'now, the instruction of yoga'. This indicates that the Yoga Sutras are not merely a philosophy but direct instruction on how to practice yoga. The first word we are given in the text is the word now. This indicates that the practice of yoga is being here now, present, alive and awake for whatever now brings you.
What would your life be like if you were constantly present? What if you could let go of any distress, sadness or rage you feel because of memories and choices in your past? What if you let go of your anxiety, fear or doubts about the future? How much room would you have in your life for joy? Pretty deep stuff.
When I was living in Santiago during college, I remember a beautiful period of time in my life that I was really living this Sutra. Although I had heavy situations and choices looming in my personal life, I was wide awake. I don't know if it there was something in the water, but despite the stress of school, family medical problems and relationship turmoil, I was clear, confident and enjoying my life.
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