I feel there is always so much to discuss when it comes to Yoga, but I wanted to remind myself about the reason why I decided to write this newsletter: to provide tools for people practice yoga off the mat, and with that in mind I chose to talk today about how a consistent practice (sādhana) of your choice can help you live from your heart, not just from your head.
It is no news that we, as a modern society, live in a competitive world, where the system measures success based on factors like how much money we make or what kind of position we excel in. These are just a few examples, but I have been reflecting lately on how these elements often pull us away from living or leading with our hearts when we focus on status (mind) versus being (heart).
You can still make money and live in alignment with what you want, which is different from being stuck on the vicious cycle of survival mode and making others rich while depleting yourself to be entitled x, y, or z.
Why?
Our fast pace, to-do lists, promotions, and excess ambitions to make more, have more, be more, and consequently do more, can lead us to live from our heads.
This creates a disconnection between what we need and our desires for. Please don’t confuse this with lifestyle, which is entirely different. Heart leaders are needed more than ever, and I’m not referring to “woo-woo” or “delulu” concepts, but to individuals who empower others to see what lies beneath their surface and to work with elements that already exist within them, though they might not yet recognize them.
By bringing presence into the moment, it allows us to purify and honor our heart’s desire, and this is where sādhana practice can helps us live more from the heart. Not from a way to ignore everything that is happening in the world, but on a way for you to sit with yourself, to help others, to live, love and be love – towards yourself and others.
Understand the term: sādhana*
Sādhana, in Sanskrit, means a disciplined practice. However, when I first encountered this term years ago, my mind associated it with the rigidity of a methodical practice. I want to emphasize that your sādhana can be a 5-minute meditation, breathwork, reading, or journaling each day. Keep it simple, repetitive and devotional to only you. The duration of your practice is specific to each individual, and that is what I would like to convey this month.
Thousand of years ago, when yogis were practicingsadhana was intended to bring enlightenment and achieve samadhi (pure bliss) through practices like work (Karma Yoga), devotion (Bhakti Yoga), and knowledge (Jnana Yoga). According to Tantra, there are no inherently good or bad elements in a human being; whatever you do is part of the life experience. You learn and make decisions yourself. You are your own guru, responsible for your choices, words, and actions.
In case you don’t have a sādhana, here is an option for you
Reflect on your daily life—work, school, family, kids, tasks, commitments, friends, co-workers, and so on. Is there an area where you feel disconnected?
Is there any discomfort in your body when you think about some of these aspects?
There are no right or wrong answers — just observe
Based on this experience (avoiding judgments of good/bad/nice/ugly), notice if your physical body reflects this mental experience. How is your breath?
Is there any tension? How are your shoulders?
Shift your attention to the middle of your body, your heart center, and continue reflecting on your previous experience. Simply notice how your heartbeat feels. Notice that with each in-breath, your shoulders relax, and with each out-breath, a sense of calm and ease reverberates through your being.
Take five deep and long breaths. If possible, close your eyes.
What I’ve provided here is a brief body awareness scan that could help clear mental fog and bring consciousness back to yourself through your heart.
This practice can be used before important meetings or challenging situations, or it can serve as a sādhana tool, cultivating devotion to yourself as a sacred being and enhancing your understanding of your needs from the perspective of your heart’s desire.
Context of sādhana* in this article:
*I am taking a perspective of the Tantra Sādhana, which was the lineage that I studied.
If you like to dive deeper here are links to start dipping your toes https://tinyurl.com/35f3rmcy & for other information about other pillars of sādhana practice, you can visit: https://tinyurl.com/3hsu2tvr
As always take what resonates, leave what doesn’t.
With love,
Carla Vido