My new altar

A few days back I took pictures of myself doing yoga. The space where I practice these days is rather tiny but for me it’s a big enough. When I checked the pictures I realized how cluttered they were. In the corner that can be seen in the picture were books. This little shelf was full of books and the little Buddha stood in the left corner preventing the books from falling. It was so distracting and not beautiful at all. Again I went through my books with the goal to discard as many as possible. Books that I haven’t read for several decades, I very likely won’t read in the next decade. Also the yellowed books had to go. Even donation shops don’t take such old books. I still found knitting books. It’s too time-consuming for me in the meantime. I have different interests. At the end of the evening I was surprised by myself I had created this little altar. I love empty space. The buddha statue is now the one and only subject in that corner. It’s not in competition with all the books. Now its true beauty can be seen. It was my first buy at Ebay. I was enthusiastic when it arrived decades ago. A certain Helmut was the seller. This little buddha was packed so nicely. It was love at first sight when I had removed all the packing paper that should protect the statue.

This morning very early, it was still dark, I stared at the buddha. I got lost in time. I loved the space around him. The simplicity of this place is so intriguing. I need more of this calm areas, I thought. I skipped yoga. Before breakfast I started discarding books. Motivation was excellent. Sometimes I think desperation whips me forward. Books are no clutter. Books are my friends. When I read it’s like having a conversation with an author. Some authors become mental friends. Yet there can be a too many. Lately I heard an interview with a woman (Elke Heidenreich). Once she said that she wants to read a book every day. In that interview she said: One cannot read everything. This is so true. So this morning I updated and upgraded my shelves. I managed it to create other empty spaces. What a relief. What a joy.

When I’ll start my yoga practice tomorrow morning I’ll look at my little buddha with the closed eyes. I’ll know that time was not wasted. This little statue that sits in a most beautiful empty space will miracle a smile on my face.

Keep it simple.

Concentration - a mental skill

Concentration is a skill. We exercise it when we practice yoga. It’s a skill that is useful whatever we do. To read a book requires concentration. To learn anything requires concentration. Even to watch a program on TV requires focus. Many people switch from one channel to the other. It’s often a lock of concentration. Yet switching channels means a story is missed. The spectator gets glimpses of many different stories.

A few years back my morning yoga practices lasted more than 2 hours. Strength was needed to practice so long, but also concentration. To practice so long bettered my ability to focus. The group session helped me. I didn’t lose this skill when I started practicing at home again. I don’t make breaks during my yoga practice at home. I don’t check the mail or my alarm clock. I focus on my practice.

I listen to the sound of the breath.

I gaze at a focus point.

I concentrate on the correct movement.

After two hours I’m exhausted. Not only the body has reached a limit, also the mind.

Being able to concentrate was a motivation for Indian students to practice yoga. In order to study effectively concentration is necessary.

Another advantage of a focused practice is that everything else seems to fade away. No to-do-list exists when I practice. All the issues, self-made or not disappear. Nothing but the sound of the breath, the gazing point, the performance of the asana is important. This is a huge relief.

After a yoga practice the world looks differently.

I set a timer for my yoga practice. I have a time frame within I concentrate on the practice. It’s also useful to create a time frame for other activities. Not to jump form one activity to the other creates a more relaxed life. It helps to reduce our daily stop. One step at a time is a good advice.

Concentration

Yoga always reminds me to take care of my time. It’s limited. My yoga practice is time-consuming. I love to spend my time on the mat. We all have also other duties and activities we want to do. One must decide what is important and what not.

What are the activities I want to focus on.

When I practice I try to use my energy wisely as well. Extra movements are to be avoided. They use up energy for no good reason. Breath, drishti, body, mind become a unity. They all work together, this gives a lot of focus and strength. I focus on the present.

Concentration is as important as any asana. My ability to concentrate has improved a lot during the last years. It’s easier to stay focused when practicing in a group. I was able to bring this focused atmosphere to my home practice. Otherwise it wouldn’t be possible to practice 2 hours without interruption.

When I practice, I practice.

On Thursdays and Fridays I want to practice the Ashtanga yoga series without many extra exercises. During the other days flow is sometimes interrupted because I use blogs and do extra exercises. I always keep breathing. I almost never leave the mat.

The pictures that I take are not taken during my morning practice anymore.

In the film ‘The breathing God’ students wanted to learn yoga to improve their concentration. Without focus and concentration learning becomes impossible.

it is a general skill.

Distraction makes it often impossible to accomplish anything. The energy goes in all directions. It has not intention, no focus, no direction.

In the long run being able to concentrate betters life.

Concentration can be learned gradually. Beginner of Ashtanga Yoga practice the sun salutations and the first asanas. Then they move to the closing sequence. A practice might last 15 minutes. With every new asana the practice lasts longer, the student has to concentrate longer. The practice builds up gradually. A few years ago I was able to focus 2 and a half hours.

Setting a timer is. trick. Everything that has a beginning and an end seems doable. Between time A and time B I do a certain activity. This is a clear message.

Stay focused. Stay present.

Focusing on one activity is enough.