Let go of struggle.
Soar effortlessly into your potential.
This sutra is all about relaxing into where you are and keeping your attention on where you want to go.
Iyengar defines this sutra as, “Perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached.”
From a spiritual perspective, where we want to go is towards connecting with the infinite universal energy, by whatever name you’d like to call it, whether it is inside, beyond our bodies, or both. Technically the sutra refers to asana as a posture for meditation. We can extrapolate out the principle and apply it to our complete asana practice and to our life in general to move easily into our full potential.
Leave behind the outdated mantram “no pain, no gain.”
Our new mantram becomes, “Try, relax, succeed.”
As we practice asana, it is important to practice alignment each time, in each pose. However, it is detrimental to rigidly hold the alignment. Our ligaments, muscles, and fascia aren’t accustomed to the new position and we can actually create stress and injury by using our will to force our bodies to transform quicker than it physically can. It took many years and lots of movement for our bodies to take its current shape and mobility. To practice safely, efficiently, and kindly, we move towards perfect alignment with a sense of humor, humility, and patience as we invite our bodies in the direction of an aligned pose and our potential. As one of my teachers, Lynne Minton, says, ”What we are doing is important, but it’s surely not serious.” If we hold the alignment rigidly we don’t allow ourselves to receive or process sensory feedback and can get stuck in over-trying. In fact, sometimes our effort is so intense that we don’t allow ourselves to move at all, not even to accept the breath and be nourished. The ironic part is that we often attempt to hold the pose through continuous effort and struggle, but we may in fact be holding ourselves in misalignment. As our practice and awareness grows, our alignment ability grows. Envision and invite where we want to be, put in some effort to align, then relax and know that we are on our way. Our practice then becomes about easing into and accepting where we currently are and focusing on we are going. Our practice becomes a soft progression into our ideal.
The same philosophy can be applied to life in general and our personal growth into the best version of ourselves. We are all aware of ways in which we can improve ourselves. It is counterproductive to expend all of our time focusing on what we do wrong and rigidly attempting to perfect those things. Using the idea of sutra 4.27, we set the intention, employ tools or actions as best we can, and then we’ve got to relax to get where we are going. We’ve got to let go of the battle, the judgement, and the self-criticism of our ‘mis-alignments’ with who we currently are in relation to who we want to be. It becomes a practice, just like our practice on the mat. When we consciously start moving towards aligned or more challenging poses, we often have limited strength, flexibility, awareness, and skills to do so. If we keep coming back to inviting (not forcing) alignment, it becomes easier. Suddenly, we find ourselves in a pose we couldn’t previously accomplish or find something that was once challenging easy and comforting.
When we consciously want to change our behavior, we experience the same limits of strength, flexibility, awareness, and skills. Just like our practice on the mat, if we keep coming back and inviting positive attitudes, behaviors, and habits, it becomes easier and more productive. Suddenly, we find ourselves becoming the person we want to be. On our personal quest, when we make the effort, accept where we currently are, and keep our vision on our potential, we receive, succeed, and become our ideal.
Our personal practice is about a balance between accepting where we are and keeping our attention on where we are headed. We can coast into our ideal instead of suffering, fighting, kicking, and screaming into it.
With relaxation, we can achieve our focus.
Through letting go, we can become the person we want to be.
Begin where you are to evolve into who you want to be.
I would like to show my appreciation for your kindness for people that should have help on the topic. Your real commitment to getting the message all around had been extremely beneficial and has made women just like me to realize their goals. The invaluable suggestions indicates so much a person like me and especially to my office colleagues. With thanks; from all of us.
We all experience the same human experience. May we all be kind and patient with our own process so that we can pass on the patience and peace. I’m glad that this was helpful!
As with each blog that Leigh writes, this one is just as beautiful and helpful. This one puts into words so eloquently what I am trying to connect with my own yoga practice and life off the mat. On the mat it is so helpful to remember that we can see where we may want to be with a physical posture, but simply must ease joyfully into the acceptance of being exactly where we are right at that moment. At least I try to remind myself of this every time I practice yoga. Sometimes it takes a bit more prodding to expand this off of the mat. When I experience strong emotions that I find difficult, it’s important to remember the same lesson. I have to ease into the same acceptance that I can choose to relax with where I am at any given moment on an emotional level, and know that I can get to a more peaceful place with ease and patience, rather than resistance and struggle. Thank you Leigh for this lesson and encouragement! I look forward to the next one:)
Ilene you are an inspiration! I love how you relate to ideas and I always learn a thing or two from your contributions. Your perspective always brings it home. Thank you so much for sharing!