A yoga practice is like the viewfinder of a 35mm camera. In the beginning, our viewfinder is small and we can only let so much light in. Ideals, opinions, fears and worries narrow our aperture. Sometimes our viewfinder gets stuck in time past due to trauma or shame or self doubt. A steady and mindful yoga practice helps us to widen our lens. First off, we settle in and be still. By reducing shakiness and mental agitation our lens begins to dilate. But know that you cannot force your lens open. It is only by relaxing your interior optic that your scope will widen. This is like unclenching a fist. By holding steady and relaxing, more light will pour in. Over time, whatever comes into your viewfinder will appear sharper and more vivid. And with time you will discover more and more space through the aperture of your lens. Typically, we forget about our lens altogether and get preoccupied by the scenery. But if you realize that your lens is transparent, clear, and empty, then your viewfinder will open its range to 180° and eventually 360°. This is called “big mind” or “all containing awareness.”
By opening the aperture of mind, we open the aperture of our heart. Big Mind and Big Heart go together. We extend empathy and tenderness toward whatever appears in our viewfinder, knowing that all is constantly changing right before our eyes. So when you wake up each morning and before you sleep at night, use a wide lens to see all things.
