Simple Yoga Blog

Yoga Sutra 1.32 Single pointed focus What is important enough to deserve your undivided attention? What do you invest your energy, time and resources in? Do you suspect that that other times and places are more important than the place you are in right now? What is the source of your distractions? What is really lasting?

Yoga Sutra 1.31: Symptoms of distractions and obstacles Distress, despair, suffering, trembling, abruptness breathing. Are you content? Symptoms of distractions manifest physically, mentally and emotionally. They are feedback to your previous actions and may suggest changes to enhance the quality of your participation in your life. Is there physical, mental or emotional dis-ease? Is your breath steady and continuous, or labored?

Yoga Sutra 1.30 Distractions and Obstacles What obstacles and distractions are keeping you from progressing toward greater integration? The obstacles and distractions include: disease (vyadi), dullness (styana), doubt (samshaya), carelessness (pramada), laziness (alasya), indulgence (avirati), confused perception (bhranti darshana), inability to be grounded (alabdha bhumikatva) and inconsistency (anavasthitatvani)

Yoga Sutra 1.29: Awareness turns inward and disturbances are removed Does chanting OM turn awareness inward and remove obstacles? Verify if the practice of chanting OM and meditation on its meaning is working. Notice if there is more or less reactivity in you. Are you more distracted or less?

Yoga Sutra 1.26 Unconditioned by time and unequaled teacher Are you making yourself available to life? Does your yoga practice transport you into the eternal present moment? Have you found ways to enter the timelessness dimension of life? Are you tuned into your own learning process? Do you know how you learn best? If you keep running against the same obstacles again and again, are you making conscious choices or are your likes and dislikes choosing for you?

Yoga Sutra 1.25: Unsurpassed seed of omniscience Is all-encompassing, pervasive awareness possible? If you ever get subtle helpful hints that provide insight or clarity, where do these hints come from? How do you actually perceive them? How do you distinguish between an idea and true insight?

Yoga Sutra 1.23: Surrender the illusion of control Gain a deeper perspective This verse invites you to recognize that you did not create yourself, or the Universe and, despite whatever you may believe, you are not in control of the world. Gaining a more accurate understanding of you and your sphere of influence can be an effective way of redirecting your energy to act effectively in the world according to your capacity, level of skill, ability and scope. Is there anything that offers you a sense of unconditional support, encouragement and hope?