Yogic philosophy teaches the interconnectedness of all life; through asana and the seven other “limbs” of yoga practice, we learn to live intentional, skillful, courageous lives off the mat. This is a powerful teaching to hold as a goal, and probably one reason that yoga philosophy remains vibrant 3,500 years after teachings were first recorded.
But life these days is a lot more distracted and chaotic than in Vedic times. Speaking for myself, I’m a single mom, I have career goals, I have health needs; I need to make car payments, get my kid to school, get dinner on the table, foster community, and stay fit. As a middle-aged woman, one truth I now know is that the world is not going to stop in order for me to practice yoga.
With some focus and discipline, I have managed to keep a steady morning yoga and meditation practice since I first attended a free Hatha class and took a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course at my college in 2001. (The fact that I don’t like to talk to people first thing in the morning may be a key to my success!) In the years that followed I found I felt calmer, more energized, happier, and more able to tackle any challenge – whether teaching an English class or grieving an unexpected death in the family – if I set aside the first twenty minutes of the day to meditate and practice asana. Any meditation. Any asana. So, for about 15 years I practiced Zen meditation and did some combination of sun salutations. It was good to have the practice. I would attend weekly yoga classes at favorite studios as I could afford to do, according to my need of the particular day. Some days were better than others, but overall I felt steady.
Then some medical challenges struck my life: I was hit by a fast car and discovered a genetic health condition. Not uncommon things, but tricky roadblocks. Suddenly, meditation posture felt painful to my neck and back and I needed more guidance than Zen’s simplicity could offer. Morning vinyasas I had counted on for years were boring and unhelpful, as if I were simply going through random gymnastic motions. I desperately needed skillful, anatomically precise, philosophically-driven, pain-relieving practices that I could trust would be worth my time and effort.
Many yoga classes today align with prevalent fitness goals and a cultural obsession with achievement. These are good aims in many ways, and yoga-fitness classes can foster community and build momentum toward health goals. But not every class and not every teacher has the experience to guide students through the true philosophical and physical benefits of yoga. After all, it’s a centuries-old tradition. Especially for those of us with injuries or health conditions. Being guided toward better health means we do, in fact, need guides. Teachers who offer the wisdom of lifelong practice, the skill and anatomical knowledge from years of teaching different bodies, and that unique personal presence that uplifts and inspires.
That’s where Prajna Yoga comes in. Whether online or at an in-person retreat, Tias and Surya’s unique teachings of meditation, asana, pranayama, and therapeutic supine practice truly cover everything I need. Even in a ninety-minute class, I know I will receive precise anatomy guidance, my body’s circulation/strength/flexibility will improve, my pain and tension will decrease, and I will just feel good. The courageous teachings of yogic and other Eastern philosophy infuse most every instruction. Particularly helpful for stress reduction and supporting the body’s vitality is the floor-based SATYA work that Tias has developed over decades. SATYA has been a transformational daily practice for me in honing my own sensory awareness and trusting my body’s healing capacity. That is not something I have found anywhere else, in over twenty years of practice.
Through opportunities such as Prajna Yoga’s three-day retreats in Santa Fe, personal guidance and beautiful inspiration are right at our fingertips. Wisdom keepers Tias and Surya’s “prescriptions” of personal practices offer guidance for many months.
And … Pssst! I hear they still have a few spaces available in the three-day immersions at Prajna Temple. Check it out Here!
-By Courtney Zenner
Images: Prajna Yoga & Freepik
