In many styles of yoga — Ashtanga and Vinyasa, particularly — the class is constructed by a series of postures sewn together to make a sequence. Each pose, though distinct, flows into the next almost without a separate beginning or ending. Separate, but seamless. In fact, the transitions themselves are, of themselves, poses. Moving with the breath, each movement is both active and passive. For me, Yoga, which means “union” is the unification of one pose to another; the unity of the breath to the pose; the uniting of the self with the all. And, to truly be present during yoga, the mind is absent of thought and distraction. Absent of multi-tasking.
When I’m in a yoga class or doing my morning asana (poses) at home, my awareness is on my practice and my practice alone. For those 45 to 90 minutes, I am doing only one thing at a time sequentially, and life seems manageable and clear.
In 2012, it seems almost incomprehensible to tackle one thing at a time. With all of the electronic devices, television, radio, and pressures we place upon ourselves, one track succession is a foreign concept. We are a generation of multi-tasking, overthinking, producers. We are rarely, if ever, doing only one thing at a given moment. Right now you are reading this at work perhaps with four other browser windows open. Or maybe you’re reading on your iPhone and walking (look out for that fountain). Or you might even be reading while listening to music, or while half paying attention to someone on the phone. Continue reading
A Charmed Yogi 