(Picture of 82 year old B.K.S. Iyengar)

Free of desire, full of ease...

As I shared with you in my last post, my grandmother has been very ill, and actually passed away this past Wednesday night. So, I will be heading up to Ohio and will not be back to posting for about a week or so.

Today's post is from B.K.S. Iyengar's, Light on Yoga, and talks about the practice of Pranayama, or control and expansion of your breath. It can be said that Mr Iyengar is one of the premier Yogis responsible for introducing yoga to the West. B.K.S. Iyengar is over 80 years old and still remains unsurpassed in his practice and teaching. I find the part which talks about the mind being like a chariot to be an amazing analogy. Also, you'll definitely want to check out this new website I've recently been introduced to called Yogamates.com. Here, you can listen to and watch video clips from some of the greatest Yoga Masters in the world. The one by Beryl Bender Birch is wonderful. She says that the more we try to hurry up the process of whatever path we are walking down, the more we actually slow ourselves down. Rather, when we are patient, and allow it to unfold, moment-to-moment, breath-to-breath, we actually develop and progress faster on our way.

"Pranayama is thus the science of breath. The yogi's life is not measured by the number of his days but by the number of his breaths. Therefore, he follows the proper rhythmic patterns of slow deep breathing. These rhythmic patterns strengthen the respiratory system, soothe the nervous system and reduce craving. As desires and cravings diminish, the mind is set free and becomes a fit vehicle for concentration.

It has been said by Kariba Ekken, a seventeenth-century mystic; 'If you would foster a calm spirit, first regulate your breathing; for when that is under control, the heart will be at peace; but when breathing is spasmodic, then it will be troubled. Therefore, before attempting anything, first regulate your breathing on which your temper will be softened, your spirit calmed.'

The chitta (mind, reason and ego) is like a chariot yoked to a team of powerful horses. One of them is prana (breath), the other is vasana (desire). The chariot moves in the direction of the more powerful animal. If breath prevails, the desires are controlled, the senses are held in check and the mind is stilled. If desire prevails, breath is in disarray and the mind is agitated and troubled. Therefore, the yogi masters the science of breath and by the regulation and control of breath, he controls the mind and stills its constant movement.

The mind is said to be twofold-pure and impure. It is pure when it is completely free from desires and impure when it is union with desires." Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar

Have a wonderful weekend.
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