This blog revisits the teachings of Samyoga and Viyoga as important concepts in the new year in identifying and moving toward what nourishes us.
In the last blog, “I Give You My Word” I wrote about the quality that I wanted to create in 2021. My word for the year is VALUED!! I am also keeping the word VITALITY from 2020 to carry over into this year. Now is the time to revisit the teaching of Samyoga (moving in the direction of what serves and supports you) as we set upon navigating the new year. Truly, we want to create forward movement toward what nourishes us on a day to day basis. Otherwise…Groundhog Day!
A couple of years ago, my mentor, Chase Bossart taught me to meditate on….grass. He taught me to internally watch what happens to grass when it doesn’t get the nutrients it needs. Think about how grass turns brown, dry and crunchy when it has not had enough water and/or sunlight. We can relate to that image of dried, sunburned grass in the hot summers of Texas when there isn’t much rain. Think about being barefoot walking across that grass. Not such a great feeling? In this meditation process, I learned to internally watch what happens to grass when it gets the right amount of water and/or sunlight. As I watched and breathed slowly, deeply, I witnessed the grass beginning to grow. The lifeless grass began to sprout and produce the chlorophyll it needs to be green. I could feel how I WAS that grass and identify (over time) what I needed to “put in” my system to grow!! This process changed my perspective and how I navigate on a day to day basis.
We can’t always change our situation but we can change the way we look at it. That’s powerful, friends!! 2020 has been an unprecedented time in which we have ALL been challenged on many levels. Mindfulness is needed in practicing safe interactions for our health without a doubt! Can we still move toward that which serves us? I say YES! Think of Samyoga as any action that moves you toward nourishment like the water/sunlight for the grass. Viyoga on the other hand is an action that keeps you “dormant”.
Viyoga is translated as moving away from what doesn’t support you. Take a moment to reflect on a habit that may be keeping you from receiving what you need to grow. For me, choosing the word VALUED meant that my work of Viyoga included moving away from personal and professional relationships that don’t value me. My work of Samyoga is aligning with those in which I have a voice at the table and my gifts are appreciated. I have to pull out the weeds along the way, so I can continue to “sprout”. This is an ongoing process…it never ends!
In general, think of Samyoga as creating a feeling of spaciousness both while doing the action and afterwards (post digestive effect). Whereas, Viyoga can create the feeling of contraction both while doing the action and post digestive effect. Fear is a good example of how we contract.
Here’s questions I ask myself often when participating in an activity: “How do I feel internally right now? What’s happening to my energy?” This takes being in touch with your interoception sense which is you ability to navigate from the inside out. (Inner G.P.S.)
As a yoga therapist I will help you identify how you feel and then ask, “How do you want to feel?” “Let’s work together to move in a forward direction.”
Self-reflection exercise:
What habits or patterns create a feeling of contraction or dis-ease? (Viyoga = move away from)
What habits or patterns create a feeling of spaciousness or ease?
(Samyoga = move toward)
Here’s to letting your grass grow lush and green!! Now, walk barefoot on that grass…ah!!!