Yoga BLOG

Yoga is much more than performing asanas in correct form and experiencing beneficial effects on body, mind, and soul. Yoga is also a spiritual guide to enlightenment. You probably know that enlightenment is difficult and certainly not attainable by everyone. But perhaps it's new to you that the obstacles to it have already been compiled in a kind of catalog. This was done by none other than Swami Sivananda . The Indian guru recognized early on and compiled in his texts the obstacles that can stand in the way of the yogi (as well as anyone else in life). Here you can learn more about the second obstacle, styana. Styana: the yoga obstacle of dullness Dullness as inertia of the mind Dullness is something that can be very inhibiting. In this context, Styana refers to sluggish thinking and behavior, which can be characterized by stubbornness. This can manifest itself, for example, in rigid behavior that is repeated over and over again, in a "dull" way. Often, the cause is a lack of energy or mental flexibility. When others are affected by this dullness and the behavior remains unchanged, empathy for others is often also lacking. Changing compulsive behavior patterns Examples of styana can be found in almost every yoga class. Imagine you're trying out a new yoga style or joining a new class. You might be driven to perform certain asanas as perfectly as possible (or perhaps even better than the yogi on the mat next to you). This often doesn't work out, perhaps because you have a physical limitation or are simply not trained enough. Your yoga teacher might recommend an option, but you don't want to admit that it's probably exactly right for you at that moment. So you continue practicing without an option, unconcerned about your limits, and you might even experience pain in the asana. This is mindlessness, and you can easily see that it has nothing to do with enlightenment; on the contrary: It can even harm you. Acceptance is important Overcoming Styana requires acceptance, which is sometimes not easy for us. Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer is an example of how working on dullness is likely something that transcends cultures and is generally beneficial to humanity: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." This acceptance is groundbreaking for all who wish to overcome Styana. Change and adapt Swami Sivananda doesn't advocate simply forgetting things we can't achieve. The best example of this is the option that can be offered in yoga for virtually every asana. So, for example, if you can't perform an asana correctly, use some relief. Bent legs instead of straight ones. A raised seat. The use of straps or blocks , as is so often practiced in Iyengar Yoga . Change your behavior, adjust your habits. You will notice that this has a positive effect not only on you but also on others. Recognize dissatisfaction as the cause We often tend to take out our own dissatisfaction on others. But it's not the yoga teacher's fault if we injure ourselves in an asana that's far too difficult for us. Nor is it the person on the mat who spoke to us who's talking to us. It's our own responsibility, and the responsibility for ourselves that we all carry within us. When we blame others for things our styana has caused, we not only damage ourselves but also our relationships with others. Reason enough to stop doing that. Image © racorn / 123rf.com