What does the word DIVINE bring up for you?

For a long time, I wouldn’t talk or share about the yogic practice of Isvara-Pranidhana (connection to the DIVINE) because of the loaded nature of the concept of something bigger. Spiritually speaking, the idea of a higher Self (capital S) could trigger a heated debate over religion, which I didn’t feel mentally capable of handling.

So I just ignored it, skipped it, mumbling something about spiritual not religious when directly asked.

Then I went through a recovery program for alcohol dependence (I’ll share more about that later down the road) and in group sessions, the term HIGHER POWER came up a lot. I mean, a whole lot.

And one of the most profound outlooks I’ve ever heard came from those sessions: Your higher power doesn’t have to be a deity or the universe or anything so huge you can’t fathom it. It can be the reason you get out of bed that day, it can be a person in your life you care about, it can be a memory, it can be a dream. It is your WHY. Why you don’t drink, why you go to work, why you get on your yoga mat.

YOU GET TO DECIDE YOUR WHY.

Why are you practicing SELF-STUDY? Why do you practice yoga? To feel better, right? Physically, mentally, emotionally, and SPIRITUALLY, right? Balanced in your feel-good. Because if one aspect is off, they all feel off.

So now I want to talk about it. I want to talk about how we are connected to something bigger. Maybe you have a name for it, maybe you don’t. For the sake of this thought process, let’s call it THE FORCE.

THE FORCE connects us and binds us all together. Not just humans, but animals and plants and even inanimate objects like rocks and ships. We learn about THE FORCE through movies and books. Jedi Masters teach padawans about THE FORCE. And the way we tap into and feel THE FORCE is by turning inward. Isvara-Pranidhana, our connection to THE FORCE, is found within, not without. We learn methods to connect with it through books and teachers and by just sitting in stillness and listening. It’s usually easier to find a still place to listen when we are in nature. We have to silence our phones and turn off our TVs to get in touch with THE FORCE.

“Sacred study of the Divine through scripture, nature and introspection guides us to the Supreme Self.

Through wholehearted dedication we become intoxicated with the divine.” –Devi, The Secret Power of Yoga, p205

There are some words here in this quote that still bring up some resistance for me. But the more I think about it, the more I adapt and move into a place of deciding what those words mean for me. The more I practice stillness and silence, the more connected I feel to THE FORCE (or whatever it is).

These Niyamas are all connected. In self-study we dig into how our awareness of Self is related to our courage and discipline, is connected to our contentment, is connected to our ability to refine and simplify our lives. Our self-care is a multi-faceted system that supports the body, the mind, the heart, and the spirit.

If you want to learn more about the Niyamas and the larger framework of yogic philosophy, I cannot recommend Nischela Joy Devi’s The Secret Power of Yoga enough. She takes a fresh look at the original Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and translates them in a new way that is more feminine and connected to the culture of the place and time it was written, and less “armchair anthropologist translating it through western masculine victorian eyes.”

NEW VIDEO ON DEMAND

This week’s new video is a replay of this month’s COMMUNITY STRESS RELEASE class.

The 60-minute practice was designed to release the stress and tension of the week with journaling, gentle movement followed by a restorative yoga nidra practice. So put on your comfy clothes, grab your journal and your favorite drink, and enjoy this wind-down video. I’ve made this video free and appreciate any donations I receive from the viewing of this video.

Check it by CLICKING HERE

FREE ON YOUTUBE

This week we use the support of the wall in Wall Yoga for Inflammation. This short restorative video will guide you to a place of relaxation, where the body’s natural systems can release and reduce inflammation. Stillness and breath are the main techniques used here, so you will feel calm, grounded, and connected to your body’s natural vitality.

That’s it from me! I truly hope your week is full of ease, peace, and love.

From my heart to yours,

–Viviane Wolfe

www.vivianewolfeyoga.com

500RYT, yoga-therapist-in-training