The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › Motivation and Inspiration › Now? NOW!
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Can’t stay in the NOW. How can I stay in the NOW? I keep slipping to the LATER, PAST. I can’t stand being in class sometimes, because its too HOT, I’m too distracted, I’m too damn frustrated by something in my life!
Setup: I usually have a good standing posture series, but when I hit the floor, I usually loose it – all the frustrations, heat, low energy and stress take over and my body doesn’t want to move. Sometimes I’m waiting for the instructor to crack the door open so I can slip out, sometimes I do whatever I can just to stay in the class – but that takes all my willpower.
I think: As so many instructors state, “its all in your breath”, if so how do I maintain the proper breath when I’m laying down?
Maybe: Maybe its not my breath, maybe its in my mind? If so how do I separate my body from my mind, or how do I keep my body going without being held back by my mind?
Breath, Mind, Body – their at odds with each other! Need to sync…
Is it BREATH or MIND-lessness?
Wow. You seem to have a lot of energy, like me! I think I understand how you are feeling when you’re in floor series. I can get jumpy, too.
I think your question, “Is it mind or is it breath?” is maybe not the right one to ask. I think when the instructors say “IT’s all in your breath,” they’re talking about the solution to your anxiety and restlessness. By focusing on inhalations and exhalations, counting the seconds for each in and out-breath, you might be able to calm your crazy, stung-by-a-bee monkey mind. The mind makes for crazy, the breath makes for calm.
The bad news: there’s no separation of body and mind! The good news: you can work with the two together. The breath is the link between them.
Aaand, if you really can’t sit still anymore, some sort of visualization technique might work. When I’m desperate I take a few minutes on my back and visualize somewhere cool… skiing on Mammoth… lying on an iceberg… sometimes that works!
I guess I know what you are talking about. When the class instructor mentions to perform Shav asana or any form of such asana which requires meditation. You have to let loose of all the thoughts in your mind and focus only on your breathing. It requires a lot of practice, but when you do achieve focus, you will feel a state of relaxed and calm mind.
Hi Cody
I don’t think it’s mindlessness! It’s more a sense of heightened awareness and sensitivity to your sensations.
Before we get analytical – cos that’s possible :cheese: – can you tell me in what position on the floor do you find yourself when unable to keep your focus and when your mind seems to be overrun with thoughts of heat, stress and escape?
Is it just when you’re on your back or is it when you’re on the floor for all your poses? See if you can fill me in on some more specifics that occur to you!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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