Wholistic Fitness

Noble WF Online Student Harry “L” Lewis…a very, very ‘ripe’ student who is pacing himself on this Steep and Direct Path with a beautiful sense of Challenge and Nurturing. Below is an actual training exchange between himself and i in regard to an important aspect of yoga and meditation…enjoy and may this entry be of benefit to your Practice…

namaste,
coach ilg

***
Most Cherish Shishya L!

oh i am very happy to be hearing from you again!

let’s see where our Dance is leading us…i have a couple of Questions for you.

Regarding your prescribed Yoga Practice during your last Program, i prioritized the Solo Practices…i want to hear some direct insight from your time spent within your tight places and your pockets of freedom.

STUDENT L:
As with the other aspects during this cycle I found I could hold a position a little longer, go a little deeper in the stretch. I felt part of the class during the HP Yoga® dvd. The movements where you “introduce us to our hips” were down right “torture” a couple of months ago. Now, I can get closer to the position in order to concentrate on the stretch. I am seeing (feeling) the progress in hip flexibility. The key is to accept the small gains (victories) and not push past the edge. The body will follow the mind but the ego can quickly negate the progress.

COACH:
this is a very, very powerful paragraph from you. perhaps one of your best yet! i wish to isolate this sentence:
“The body will follow the mind but the ego can quickly negate the progress.”
it contains much Dharma from such a new Student.
please, elaborate:

STUDENT L:
The edge needs to be pushed by the ego and body being in sync. If the ego goes on the other side and tries to “pull” the edge further out than the body is capable of attaining at that moment, injury may occur.

COACH:
go(o)d…
consider, in your upcoming months of Practice,
a gradual dismantling of the ego entirely until there is no longer any sort of “push” or “pull”…
only a wonderful and ever deepening sense of ‘merging into’ the edge.
the yogin attempts to blur all edges until he becomes an Edgeless Warrior; able to merge into any posture; be it a physical one or – better yet – metaphysical ones; emotional, mental, spiritual.

Now,
i have a question on your Prescribed Meditation Practices:
How was the Early Morning Zen?

STUDENT L:
What I like best about this time of year is I can do my zen outside with minimal clothing. There is nothing like the quiet
except for the sounds of nature. We have a pond with a small waterfall so the flowing water adds to the tranquility.

COACH:
great, however, how was the Quality of your Mind?
any victories at chaining the Wandering, Chattering Mind?

STUDENT L:
I am at times able to get two breaths in before the wandering starts. It is the feeling during those two breaths that is great.

COACH:
It is that ‘feeling’ which is the Action of Merging (aka; yoga)

Now, write out for me, the definition (it can be yours or attained from other sources*) of Namaste 3x:

STUDENT L:

My spirit honors your spirit.

My spirit honors your spirit.

My spirit honors your spirit.

COACH:
very nice…thank you.
Here is the WF Temple Definition of Namasté as put forth by myself, many years ago:
“In India,
instead of saying ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye’ they say, ‘Namasté!’
It means, the Sacred Space that is inside of me
recognizes
and
honors
that same Sacred Space that is inside of you and when you and i communicate
within that Space,
we
are
one.”

I’m off to finish up your Program Update right now.

proud of you.

love,

coach

STUDENT L:
Namaste!