Advent Yoga Reflections: How Christmas Reminds Us What Yoga is About
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
2y ago
Last weekend, I attended an Advent yoga class. When I began my yoga practice decades ago, I wouldn’t have expected to find such a thing. I can’t say for sure how I landed at the class this year, but it may have had something to do with reminiscing about childhood traditions—something my husband and I have been doing lately. As a child, I remember Advent (the weeks leading up to Christmas) as a still, hopeful time. We had a tradition my friends probably didn’t know about as they carried on with the usual hustling and bustling in December. I’m not saying we didn’t do any hustling or bustling. B ..read more
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Self in Spirituality: What Is The Truth About Our Role as Individuals?
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
2y ago
I’ve always been curious about different spiritual points of view. Even though there are many, they seek similar things, like liberation from suffering, salvation or enlightenment, and choosing the right path through life. The self in spirituality — that is, the nature, importance and reality of the individual self— is one topic almost every spiritual seeker considers at some point. Recently, I had a conversation with a Christian friend who told me Christianity is ultimately about self-sacrifice. A Buddhist meditation class I’m taking focuses on the idea that there is no static self. In yoga ..read more
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Self in Spirituality: Truth Will Not Annihilate You
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
2y ago
I love to consider spiritual points of view. There are many, of course, but they seek similar things, like liberation from suffering, salvation or enlightenment, and choosing the right path through life. The self in spirituality — that is, the nature, importance and reality of the individual self— is one topic almost every spiritual seeker considers at some point. Recently, I had a conversation with a Christian friend who told me Christianity is ultimately about self-sacrifice. A Buddhist meditation class I’m taking focuses on the idea that there is no static self. In yoga, we often talk abou ..read more
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Attachment And Aversion: The Secret to Loosening Suffering’s Grip
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
2y ago
As a younger yogi, I craved enlightenment (yes, I see the silliness in that). Like many people, I was drawn to yoga because I was suffering. When I first learned about attachment and aversion in yogic philosophy, I thought, great. If I want to be happy, I just have to stop liking and disliking things. In other words, want nothing and have nothing to live for. I knew the things people believe will eliminate suffering don’t eliminate it, at least not for long. On some level, I’ve always known this, which left me wondering what to do with myself while I live in this body early in life. As a resu ..read more
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Search and You Will Find, But You’ll Need to Use More Than Your Mind
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
3y ago
A few weeks ago, I enrolled in wisdom school. One of the texts for this school is the 114 verses — called logions — of the Gospel of Thomas. Each logion is a a saying or quote attributed to Jesus. And in one session, we based a discussion of the saying “Search and you will find” on the second logion. Yeshua says, “If you are searching, you must not stop until you find. When you find, however, you will become troubled. Your confusion will give way to wonder. In wonder, you will reign over all things. Your sovereignty will be your rest.” Logion 2, The Gospel of Thomas, translation by Lynn Bauma ..read more
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How The Mind Creates Distraction and The Simple Way Yoga Gets Us Back
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
3y ago
After describing the roadblocks to enlightenment in the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali invites us to consider their presence in our lives. He invites us to explore how the mind creates distraction. A few symptoms, we’re told, will let us know when it’s happening How The Mind Creates Distraction When we’re distracted, Patanjali says, our bodies let us know. We may experience distress, despair, trembling, and disturbed breathing—all symptoms of mental distraction. You may recognize these as symptoms of anxiety or depression. For millions of people, the stresses of modern life result in distraction from ..read more
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Niyama Practice: Firing Up Our Desire to Know Who We Are As One
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
3y ago
In chapter 2 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, we learn about practicing yoga. More specifically, how to practice. The first sutra in this section introduces three important disciplines that can help us deepen our yoga practice. The disciplines are three of the five niyamas. Sutra 2.1 says: Austerity, the study of sacred texts, and the dedication of action to God constitute the discipline of Mystic Union. (from sacredtexts.com) Later in this chapter, more details about practicing yoga emerge. But first, Patanjali concentrates on the foundation we can build with the niyamas, specifically tapas (usin ..read more
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The Practice of Yoga: Lighting A Fire For Self-Study and Surrender
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
3y ago
In chapter 2 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, we learn about the practice of yoga. More specifically, how to practice. The first sutra in this section introduces three important disciplines from the niyamas that strengthen our ability to deepen our practice. Sutra 2.1 says: Austerity, the study of sacred texts, and the dedication of action to God constitute the discipline of Mystic Union. (from sacredtexts.com) Later in this chapter, more details about the practice of yoga emerge. But first, Patanjali concentrates on the foundation we can build with three practices: tapas (using challenges as oppo ..read more
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Search and You Will Find, But Not If You Only Use Your Mind
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
3y ago
A few weeks ago, I enrolled in wisdom school. One of the texts for this school is the 114 verses — called logions — of the Gospel of Thomas. Each logion is a a saying or quote attributed to Jesus. And in one session, we based a discussion of the saying “Search and you will find” on the second logion. Yeshua says, “If you are searching, you must not stop until you find. When you find, however, you will become troubled. Your confusion will give way to wonder. In wonder, you will reign over all things. Your sovereignty will be your rest.” Logion 2, The Gospel of Thomas, translation by Lynn Bauma ..read more
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Egoism and Yoga: Do We Really Need to Eliminate The Self?
Yoga Circles
by Maria Kuzmiak
3y ago
You don’t have to be a yogi to understand the trouble egoism can cause. Ego, the individual self, tends to seek attention and see itself as separate from others. In a recent post, I described the ways ignorance shows up and creates obstacles to enlightenment. One of these ways—perhaps the most significant—is misunderstanding who we are. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali explains this problem as taking the non-self as self. Put another way, believing all there is to life is our own individual existence—the small self—can lead to a life of competition, separation, despair, and disconnection. One re ..read more
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