5 Cures For Your Wandering Mind

The mind states or hindrances are a set of Buddhist concepts that were borrowed from Vedic Rishis of India, that deal with what our minds are doing when we are not showing up in the moment. These mind states are what pull us from our present experience, and create suffering. Luckily for us, early Hindus and Buddhists were also brilliant in coming up with a cure for each of the fluctuations of the mind.

Desire
Want, lust, greed, clinging, attachment, addiction, neediness or lack, pleasure sense experiences, or daydreaming about a friend or colleague. Desire can occur anytime we start to envision a “better” future, which is great for goal-setting, but maybe not right when it detracts from our moment-to-moment experience.
Cure: Commitment and holding to what is presently there. Recommitting to it with affirmations, or a personal creed you read daily to remind you of your value system.

Aversion
Anger, boredom, negativity, judgement, fear, repulsion, hatred, ill-will, wanting it to be different, planning-mind. Byron Katie says, “When I argue with reality, I lose – but only 100% of the time.”
Cure: Generate loving thoughts for what you find an aversion for. It will feel phony at first, because it is! But continue to breath, relax, feel, watch, and allow.
Cure 2: Look at how you can “co-create” with the moment, taking what you are given. Make the moment saucy, given the cards you are dealt.

Sloth/Torpor
Sloth is probably one of the more common mind states in a society where we are constantly inundated with flashing pictures, voices, smells, and action all around. It zaps energy, and leaves us tired, mentally scattered, and usually feeling like a blob on the couch with a favorite sweet or salty snack.
Cure: One-pointed concentration. By concentrating, you are shoring up your scattered resources of energy to focus on your moment-to-moment experience and all the wonderful things happening around you.

Restlessness
When we can’t sit still, worry, get anxious, make something out of nothing, fret, regret, grieve or ruminate. Depressants and alcohol only mask these symptoms, and throw ice cubes in the boiling water, rather than turning off the burner.
Cure: Instead, find determination by lengthening the inhale and exhale, and softening the jaw.

Doubt
Creating the most suffering of the mind states is doubt. This is also the hardest mind state to notice, because it can be easy to…

Classes

What is Ashtanga?

The term “Ashtanga” is Sanskrit which comes from the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, where it refers to classical yoga’s eight (ashta)-limb (anga) practice. The eight limbs are restraint, observance, posture, breath control, sense withdrawal, concentration, meditative absorption, and “ecstasy.” This last word, which means “standing inside of,” is Samadhi, which literally means to “put together” or “bring into harmony.” In Samadhi, we “stand inside of” our true Self in preparation for the ultimate state of classical yoga, the eternal “aloneness” (kaivalya) of that Self in the purity and joy of its being.

The Ashtanga method stresses daily Vinyasa flow practice done with the application of the Ujjayi Pranayaam ( breath), the Bandas (locks) and the Drishti (specific points of focus) with Sanskrit Mantras as well as hand Mudras ( gestures ). Astanga Yoga is a breathing practise where the Asanas ( poses ) are secondary since without propering breathing exercises, the Yogasana is just exercise. Proper form of breathing is the key in Ashtanga to maintain the pose and at the same time gain strength to hold the pose longer. The breath keeps us present. The body follows the breath not the other way round.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is characterized by the practice of a series of Yoga Poses without stopping and accompanied by Vinyasa or riding the breath in order to flow from one pose to another. It is a vigorous exercise that physically and mentally challenges you in order to help you connect to your inner power. Poses are done in a fast pace, and each pose is held for the required five breaths.

This practice can increase your physical endurance and ability to focus on any task for a long time without breaking your concentration.

Is Ashtanga Yoga for You?

Ashtanga yoga is extremely popular. It is a vigorous, athletic style of practice. It appeals to those who like a sense of order and who like to do things independently. Ashtanga is also an ideal foundation for home practitioners, once they know the sequence of poses.

We offer the most dynamic flowing form of Yoga classes whereby these are inspiring classes offering real and sustained change. We offer students the ability to start, grow and deepen their practice in Yoga and meditation exercises that are designed to enhance strength, suppleness and flexibility of body and mind.

Beginners Levels 1, 2 & 3

Beginners Level 1 : Designed for students with little or no yoga experience. During these classes, students are introduced to basic Ashtanga Yoga postures which are soecifically designed to improve your strength, flexibility and balance. Students are also introduced to Pranayam or breathing exercises, standing and seated Asanas, Yoga mantras, Drishti or focussing techniques, Mudras and meditation.

Beginners Level 2 : Students who have completed Level 1, or who have previous Yoga experience, progress to the next series of more challenging postures and correct sequential order of Yoga Asanas in a flow form.

Beginners Level 3 : Designed for students who have progressed from Level 2, Level 3 introduces the student to Pranayam practised to influence the energies in the Chakras
(seven energy centres in the body). The student also learns the practise of Vinyasa sequence of breath and movement of Ashtanga yoga. A lot of practice and endurance is necessary at this Level.

Weekdays – Beginners Level Classes

Personal training classes specifically tailored for individual requirements are also available.
Please contact us on : 07950942082 or email : info@nrityakala-dancecreations.com for further details on enrolling with us.

( Please note: We reserve the right of admission & the right to cancel any class(es) )

Go to Biography 

Ashtanga Vinayasa Yoga

What is Yoga?

Thousands of centuries ago, ancient India’s Vedic Rishis, Hindus mystics and philosophers drew upon the inspiration of life and death to reveal one of the greatest gifts to the human race : Yoga. The term ‘Yoga’, derived form Sanskrit, means ‘union’, bringing together, connection and communion’, and refers to the ever present union between the individual soul or self, Jiva, and the Universal Being, Atman. This can also be thought of as personal consciousness connecting with global consciousness. In Yogic thought, this union is considered to be real and concrete, and it is described as enlightenment or self realization. Through the various practises of Yoga we are able to realise the divine eternal spirit which connects and flows through us all.

The nature of Yoga is discovered in the doing. In essence,it is a non-verbal process, an inner journey to the true centre of the Soul, which is the source of all happiness and ultimately of union or non-separateness. This inner journey follows many concurrent paths – the pursuit of personal integrity and moral restraint, physical exercises and breathing techniques, and the development of concentration or ‘one – pointedness’ – that will hopefully lead us to attain the state of meditation in which we are able to find the ultimate bliss of self – realization.

The practise of meditation increases our awareness of ourselves and the ways in which we relate to the rest of creation and enables us to live fully in each moment with contentment, serenity and love. It stills the endless mental chatter that saps our energy and creates stress and negativity. Although it requires us to set time aside to turn our attention inward, the benefits gained in solitude can transform our relationships as well as refreshing and harmonizing our energies at all levels. When the mind is freed from the turmoil of everyday concerns it is able to turn inward to find spiritual wisdom in a state of expanded awareness. reflecting on what we have learned, we can use the insight we gain to transform our daily lives.

The physical awakening of the body is the first step for many of us on the Yoga journey. Through the bodily practice of Yoga, consciousness emerges with the movement of the earth, and the body merges with the motion and stillness of the postures. This creates physical, mental and emotional balance, openness, intelligence, strength and well – being, bringing body, mind and soul into ever-greater harmony and health.

Yoga has its seeds in antiquity, yet it still continues to evolve. It is a live, breathing art, inspired from the depths of nature. Ashtanga is a unique form of physical Yoga that places emphasis on the flowing energy of breath, body and mind to cultivate an inner core of strength. Its primary instrument is the body, which is led through a sequence of Yoga postures known in Sanskrit as Asanas.

The Katha Upanishad mentions the importance of Yoga and meditation :

There are 101 energy channels (Nadis) of the heart existing.
One of them is directed to the skullcap|
Through this one, reaching upwards, immortality (Amrita) can be achieved. All other channels are going to various directions – they are doors to death, exits and doorways ||

The benefits of Yoga are many. Yoga attunes the body, improves posture, corrects breathing patterns, helps reduce stress, cultivates deep relaxation and if desired enhances spiritual growth. Regular practice encourages the body to become leaner, healthier, toned and more flexible, while the mind experiences clarity, focus, and tranquility.