Heat
There is really only one reason why we don't heat our rooms at OM and it's simple -- we don't need to do that. As we move slowly, with mindfulness and clarity, through our warm-ups (note the name of the beginning movements) we naturally create internal warmth. Heat is energy and as this energy begins to flow throughout our system, it brings elasticity to the muscles, opening up channels for pranic flow of lymph and synovial fluids, and other organic responses in a gradual, healthy manner. One of the most valuable organic responses is that we begin to feel relaxed, comfortable and able to move more freely in our own skin creating a sense of well-being. Does this sound familiar? It's one of the main reasons why we keep coming back to our mat. This beautiful experience of feeling our own heat growing reminds us of our natural connection to the sun. It reminds us that we really can be simply natural, even if we live in a world of concrete. It reminds us to be ourselves, to have confidence in our innate intelligence, physically, mentally and emotionally. It shows us that staying with a process is valuable and the only way to develop is to go through each step. Skipping steps leaving gaps in understanding and inhibits results. Being natural helps us appreciate and use our own inherent resources and cuts through the habit of looking outside ourselves for energy or for confirmation. The heat of the sun and the heat of our movement together create a safe environment for us to engage in asana practice. Artificial heat can warm your skin and lead to injury because it's difficult to accurately feel how much your muscles and connective tissues are ready to move and stretch. Surya Namaskar is a series of alternating forward and backward bends that coordinate with rhythmic inhaling and exhaling. Through repetition at a reasonable tempo this brilliant sequence provides useful and beneficial warmth. Going too slow makes it laborious and going too fast encourages gaining ideas and stress. Each moment of the sequence is equally important and when every movement is fully felt, the yogi may have an experience similar to walking meditation, only with fancier shapes. But now that it's summer we might find that we need to go a little slower, or do less Surya Namaskar repetitions or -- this is my suggestion -- move with clarity and presence so that we can observe the rising of heat, the loosening of muscles, the opening of joints, the awakening of prana at the beginning of our class and monitor our efforts appropriately. Part of yoga is committing to a regular practice but that doesn't mean that the practice should be the exact same every day. Yoga is also about relating to whatever situation is at hand -- climate, politics, family, work -- and respond accordingly in body, speech and mind. So, if you're anything like me, there are some days when it's just too darn hot! On those summer days when the famous NYC 3Hs are strong -- you know, Hot, Humid, Hazy -- we happily lift up the windows, or turn on the overhead fans or flip on the air vacuum system that sucks moisture out of the air creating a non-blowing cooling effect. Because, yes, heat is good but it's only part of the story of yoga and of life. That's why at the end of every class we also take time to cool down. Cool off our physical body, let our blood temperature drop, and chill out altogether. We want to make sure that we don't burn out so that tomorrow we can come to our mat, stand in mountain pose, feel the earth below us and the sun above us and do it all over again. -Cyndi |