Yogic Activism: Changing the world from the inside

Yogic Activism: Changing your world from the inside.

Article by Hayley Price
www.hayley-yoga.com

‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ Mahatma Gandhi

Yoga is a way of life, a process of Self inquiry, Understanding and Connection. A true Yogi is not necessarily one who can perform impressive feats with their body, but one who has the perspective, wisdom and inner strength to remain in a state of Clarity and Equanimity amongst life’s many fluctuations and challenges; one who is consistently connected to their Dharma, or life’s purpose. The Yoga postures and practices connected with Yoga are tools to uncover this innate potential that exists within us all. 

As Sharon Gannon, Co-creator of ‘Jivamukti Yoga,’ states

‘You cannot do Yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state.’

Yoga gives us space to relax and be without judgement or analysis and enables us to become more present, even as life changes around us. Gently, with time and practice, we can release our tight grip on things that have past and the resistance of what is to come and surrender into life and all it has to offer and teach us as confident, courageous, effulgent beings.

Yoga offers us a direct line of insight into our own inner nature and ripens within us a sense of Self and Universal responsibility. We can recognise our potential as human beings and allow ourselves to live a vibrant, joyful life that has not intentionally come at the expense of others, but that embraces and considers all as part of our own Selves; as living within our own hearts.

If we could see ourselves in the faces of all that we encounter, from the most radiant to the most grotesque, and truly experience them as different potentials of our own Self, how would we see the world? How would we respond? What would we offer?

'And when he sees Me in all and sees all in Me,
Then I never leave him and he never leaves Me.
And he, who in this oneness of love
Loves Me in whatever he sees,
Wherever this man may live,
In truth, he lives in Me...'
Bhagavad Gita, VI: 30, 31

Yoga affirms that when we transform ourselves from the inside then, often, the world around us changes. We become living examples of our aspiration and, because of the yogic tools we use to deepen our relationship towards ourselves, a wider field of compassionate understanding, patience and forgiveness arises within the expanse of our hearts that offers perspective and a genuine heart-felt connection to those around us.  

Yoga, as with any form of contemplative practice from any tradition that encourages Self-awareness, Responsibility and Connection to ourselves and others is one of the most powerful ways to stand up for what we believe in. In yoga, we don’t just talk about how we would like things to be; we become them. And in this way, we offer ourselves to the world as living examples of our own inner vision towards peace, integrity and wisdom.

‘The practice of Yoga is usually not THE path as much as the path to YOUR path.’ Aadhil Palkivala

Yoga has many meanings. One of them is to Yoke, to Unite. This doesn’t mean to evaporate into a state of sameness with everyone else. There are about as many paths in yoga as there are people! The point is to be fully your own expression of ‘Unity within Diversity’; to find the part of the jigsaw puzzle of life that you fit into and give yourself fully to that. 

We learn to let go of destructive habits like comparing ourselves to others and the fear of what others may think. We trust that within our own uniqueness that there is a Universal Unity that can never not occur and, therefore, when we hold our integrity of being, our connection to ourselves, others and our environment then there is no need to feel shame or guilt in expressing our truth. When we are aligned with our own inner nature, how can we knowingly cause harm to another?

Being the change you wish to see in the world means embracing all potentials of your Self, relaxing into them and finding the part you play in the world that leads you to a state of true happiness and connection. 

‘He who knows not that the prince of darkness is but the other face of the king of light knows not me’ G. Manly Hall.

Yoga is also realistic. In Yoga, as in many ancient traditions, there are three aspects of being; Birth, Life itself and Death. In modern day society, the society we ourselves have created, we have come to fear, and even deny, the third aspect: death. This can be seen in the way we fear change and tend to hold a tight grip on the past and it is inside that these issues fester, waiting to explode.

In a society that clings so strongly to the notion that what we can control and know intellectually gives us power and life, the fear or change, the unknown, creates a deep psychological aversion. 

‘What we resist persists, what we look at disappears.’ Neale Donald Walsch

What would life be like if we could surrender to this inevitable change with more freedom? Were we to drop our addiction to excess stress, would we actually achieve our tasks with more efficiency and speed? What might we discover about ourselves in space and silence? Does our want to control lead to greater stress, pain and tension? 

‘Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.’ H.H. The Dalai Lama

The cells in our bodies are transforming each and every moment. What we believed ten years ago has most likely died in our awareness and evolved into a deeper and more connected understanding of life through our experience. And, indeed, what we believe ten years from now may be completely different. Death is an undeniable part of life, part of living and part of nature. It is not simply physical, but mental, emotional and spiritual too. If we did not die in each and every moment, we would not be able to evolve, to grow or to become anything more than a stagnant statue; stone, cold and incapable of feeling. Yoga invites us to look closely at our relationship with death and find relaxation within that which we cannot control.

‘Out of suffering have emerged the strongest of souls; the most massive of characters are seared with scars’ Rumi

This is not to say that we knowingly invite suffering upon ourselves, but only that we transform our relationship towards it. There is no more space for blame or victimhood as the responsibility lies deep within us to create and fully embody the transformation we seek outside of ourselves. We become fully empowered and see all that we experience not as obstacles, but as tools to unravel the hidden corners of our Being and to bring each and every part of ourselves into the light.

‘Wariorship is a continual journey. To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life.’ Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

We need not wrap ourselves up in cotton wool and deny ourselves life as there is beauty even in the darkest corners of our hearts. We could not appreciate the masterpiece of an inspiring painting were it not for its contrast of shadow and light. We can give ourselves permission and space to be whole. And in this wholeness, is Yoga. 

‘All methods are traps. We just have to choose our traps wisely, and hope they’ll self-destruct after they have served their purpose.’ Ram Das

Becoming fanatical about a particular path is a sure sign that the path has become a trap, that there is tension and that the heart has become cold. It is the typical black and white thinking of an inner child who has misunderstood. In yoga, we can become childlike, full of joy, but we do not become childish. We approach the path with Ahimsa, non-violence, Karuna, compassion, and the understanding that what works for us may not work for another. Each must carve their own journey. 

A wonderful way of checking if your practice is evolving or not is observing how much the essence of the practice overflows into and transforms your daily life, how much you wish to share the essence of the practice, not necessarily the practice itself, with others. 

‘As we evolve, our asana practice remains important, but if we focus entirely on it and make the performance of poses the end result of our endeavour, our practice becomes an obstacle to our own evolution.’ Aadil Palkhivala

Yogic Activism invites a process of honest Self inquiry and a courage that bestows an unwavering faith in our movements towards the Unknown. Looking deeply within, the Yogi humbly lives their Dharma and allows the qualities of wisdom, compassion, friendliness, celebration, love and a deep trust in life to unfold within and shine through. 

‘In relation to happiness, misery, virtue and vice, by cultivation the attitudes of friendliness, compassion, gladness and indifference respectively, the mind becomes purified and peaceful.’ Sutra 33, Chpt 1; Yoga Sutra’s of Patanjali, translated by Swami Satyananda

In other words, through the practice of Yoga, the Brahmavihara, the four attitudes, blossom forth:

‘1. Friendliness toward the joyful
2. Compassion for those who are suffering
3. Celebrating the good in others
4. Remaining impartial to the imperfections of others
the same Sutra, translated by Donna Farhi

Yogic Activism is the process by which we live our day to day lives with integrity, awareness and contentment, imbibing the essence of Yoga given to us by the practice and by the potency of our presence.

‘Oneness doesn’t mean that we don’t honour our individuality. The more conscious we are of Oneness, the more our individual lives reflect that awareness. We’re no longer only concerned with our small, separate, individual world, so more harmonious qualities can flow into our lives.’ Ram Das

 There is no ‘perfect form’ we must adopt, no shape we must mould ourselves to. There is no need to indulge in elaborate displays of achievement or shout it from the rooftops (unless that is your Dharma of course!). It is simply who we are. And, through and within that, the world around us transforms.

 ‘And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.’ Anais Nin

So, what does Yogic Activism look like for you? What matters to you? What do you live for? I ask again, if you are truly living a life of wisdom, connection and love is it possible to knowingly cause harm to another in the name of your success? Consider what it means to fully embody Yoga and before acting in the name of Yoga – Be Aware!

‘Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.’ Viktor Frankel

Yogi Be. Yogi Do.

Recommended reading

‘Four Chapters on Freedom’ by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
‘Bringing Yoga to Life’ by Donna Farhi
‘Fire of Love’ by Aadhil Palkivala
‘Paths to God’ by Ram Das
‘River of Compassion: A Christian commentary on the Bhagavad Gita’ by Father Bede Griffiths
‘Conversations with God’ by Neale Donald Walsch
‘Shambhala: The Sacred path of the Warrior’ by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Meditation, Yoga, Life and the Beginners Mind

Having lived in India and Thailand for 5 years, I have been fortunate enough to have the time to attend various meditation retreats and courses through Buddhist and Yogic Traditions.

There are probably as many meditation techniques out there as there are people, or at least different schools of thought. Every retreat I have attended has benefited me with some tool that I can utilise towards Self inquiry. For me, techniques are tools and, although they appear to differ in their methods, their essence tends to lead to the same place, depending on the state of mind the technique is approached with.

Perhaps this is why there is much emphasis on the 'beginners mind' in various different traditions. With a mind that is open, receptive and attentive it is often simpler to relax into an embodied experience that is not judged or subject to mental commentary from the intellect.

But maintaining a beginners mind is not so simple as the intellect and ego constantly want to make themselves known and knowable in this field. There is a place for both these entities and indeed they too can be utilised as tools for self inquiry, but this path has been likened to licking honey from the sharpest blade: it takes great skill and is so easy to get cut.

On this point too, often once certain knowledge or an experience has been cemented, it becomes stuck. A whole belief system can emerge surrounding it that has the potential to either liberate us further, if held loosely and allowed to expand, or hinder us if we do what seems to be the tendency of the mind, which is to grasp on to it, become limited in our perception and elitist in our thought.

So, encouraging that state of openness and beginningness, no matter how much you 'know.' allows the mind to use the knowledge it has experienced wisely, but also to remain open for new knowledge, new experience that will evidently take it further and deeper into itSelf. This concept also ties in well with the theme of Neuroplasticity and the inner workings of the Nervous System; we do have the potential to ever evolve and grow, walking along the path one step at a time in order to allow the growth rate to be gradual and in line with our unique and realistic capabilities.

So, it is with this attitude that I attempt, each day, to approach my own practice. It is humbling and I love it. I find practicing meditation to be an invaluable part of my life with countless benefits. To me, it is a training for the mind to rest into presence and release the tight grip I sometimes hold things with.

There is a great quote that I came across the other day while reading through my teacher training manuel. It was the first point that was emphasised with regards to 'teaching' meditation.

"Meditation techniques can be taught, but meditation can not; it is a personal experience born of consistent effort." SYA TTC

So the calm and equanimous, unshakeable mind we all yearn for doesn't descend upon us overnight, or through becoming rigid and stuck in a technique (the technique is a tool remember) - it takes time to reprogram, relearn and unlearn, and I see this every day in my own practice. This isn't meant to deter anyone from the practice of meditation, rather to make a point that the process of meditation is a gift in itself, as it allows us to develop self acceptance, patience, honesty and surrender, necessary qualities to move beyond our limited perceptions of ourselves and others.

Looking at my own practice, I am aware that occasionally I find it the most blissful thing in the world. I become One with everyone and everything and I feel like I must have got ' it ' and I'll never come down.... until I do and I realise I was grasping again, holding onto a feeling that was fleeting and that that's not the point. At other times my practice can be abosolute hell, a battle with my own resistance towards myself and my experience that I deem to be 'negative.'

But what matters is that I keep sitting, and I keep watching - and more and more, with time and practice, I am able to let go - or at least to accept that I'm not ready to let go and develop patience (well sometimes!!!). I become more and more relaxed and at ease, accepting of myself as I am, whether my inner experience is judged by my ego as being 'positive' or 'negative,' 'good' or 'bad.' And this is quite humbling. Better to be who you are where you are and unfold from there than to conjure up a false image of yourself that is so hard to maintain and so easy to fall from.

The other quality I find invaluable during meditation is self responsibility. Removing blame from the external object which can be distracting to the practice itself and focusing on the inner feeling or attitude towards it (remember this does not mean dwelling in self blame, guilt or shame). What it brings up for me and how I can use this as medicine, a tool for growth and learning. The beginners mind is ever precious and necessary in observing this process.

So, it's always good to remember, from the previous blog, that whatever we perceive to be an obstacle is often there to facilitate our evolution when perceived from a different angle and an open, receptive mind can see this more clearly.

What we perceive to be 'good' or 'bad' about ourselves and others are often based on our own habitual way of thinking, that tends to fall short of the 'bigger picture.' Everything we experience internally and externally is there to reveal something about ourselves, if we so allow it. And approaching meditation, yoga and life with an open / beginners mind (which, by the way, is not a mind of blind faith or naivety) allows us to be receptive to new ways of thinking an being that, in turn, allow us to both accept our experience and move beyond it with a deep internal sense of peace, faith and well being.

Moving through Obstacles

Gjananam Buta-ganadi-sevitam

Kapita-jambu-phala-sara-Bhaksitam

Uma-Sutam Soka-Vinasha Karanam

Namami Vighnesvara-pada-pamkajam

'I bow to the lotus feet of Ganesh, 

the remover of obstacles, the elephant headed 

lord of all creatures, who drinks the juice of

the Kapitha and Jambu fruites, the son of

Uma who destroys all sorrows'

Sivananda Yoga Chant Sheets

Last night, during yoga class, I found myself chanting this mantra and contemplating the symbology of the Hindu god, Ganesh out loud to my students.

For me, the mantra holds a deep vibrational quality that extends beyond its literal English translation, and that can only be experienced by allowing the body/mind to become open and receptive.

But the meaning and symbology are interesting too, and the whole yoga class unfolded through this contemplation. What does it mean to remove obstacles? Are they really obstacles in the first place? Or is it just our perception that makes them obstacels?

So, Ganesh symbolises the capacity to remove obstacles, to embody peace and prosperity, physical and mental powers and success in initiating new ventures.

Leaving the external form of the 'god' aside, which is symbolic in itself, and exploring these 'inner qualities' that Ganesh represents made for a very reflective and interesting Yoga class.

So, what are Obstacles?

These are entirely personal and unique to each individual, but usually, when we look closely and honestly into what we see as an obstacle, we come to realise that they are most often internal; an aspect of our mind that has become stuck or expectant and creates or projects that into the world, onto an external object. Therefore, we are really dealing with this on the level of the mind.

My feeling is that the first step to recognising the obstacle is to remove all the blame for the external and take full responsibility for the quality of mind that has created it - BUT - without being overly hard on ourselves - let's not go down the track of dwelling in self blame, guilt and shame!! Just honest self inquiry.

When we do this, the question arises - What is it within me that this external 'obstacle' is challenging? What part of me is being asked to grow through this experience?

As soon as we have accepted responsibility in this way, and these questions arise, the 'obstacle' itself has already much diminished. For we are no longer perceiving it as an obstacle, but as a tool. A tool, through which we can unlock that part of the mind that has become stuck, locked, expectant, stale. That no longer serves our growth.

Through our diligent awareness of the moments we are faced with this part of our mind, observing the moment that the 'obstacle' arises, and through our observation and determination not to blindly react with old habit patterns, the obstacle loosens its grip and our perception towards it changes.

Remember, this doesn't happen overnight. Try to imagine all the years that the mind has been reacting in a certain way - and then understand that undoing those reactions will take time. This path requires patience, tolerance and absolute compassion and acceptance towards ourselves and others.

As these old habit patterns, obstacles, become tools and as we learn to use these tools for honest self inquiry, we begin to move through the obstacle. And as we become more and more attuned to this process, the obstacles, the tools, become our friends, our teachers, our allies, guiding us to open and evolve.

The external expression, or the mirror the initial obstacle held up for us may then disappear. It may not. But by this time, the perception will have changed and the obstacle will be a cherished ally on our path to self discovery, without which we could not have extended beyond our limited perceptions. 

And so, we transform our obstacles into our friends... but remember, once the lesson, the medicine, has been fully digested, we must also loosen our grip and continue our evolution - otherwise we run the risk of turning our ally back into an obstacle again!

I can not reiterate enough that this can be a very slow process. It is a process, not a quick fix or a repression of a thought or feeling. It requires patience, compassion and trust in order to move through it. Once the mind has grasped a concept on an intellectual level, there is a tendency to expect the body to be there with it. It's easy to become impatient, and frustrated, and even give up, before the Nervous System and other bodies have had time to catch up and fully digest the medicine of the process. 

So, may we strive to inhabit this intellectual knowledge. To harness the patience, compassion, awareness and self acceptance required to repetitively bring our wandering mind back to our Source, our Center and keep growing, expanding and letting go. May we move through our obstacles and may they become our tools, our allies and our teachers!

Hari Om Tat 

Unity in Diversity = Yoga = Union

I wanted to spend a little bit of time talking about yoga, what it is and what it means practice yoga, what it means to me... yesterday I started writing and here is what came through...

Yoga is like a tree with thousands of branches. Each branch grows towards the light of the same Sun and is nourished by its roots that are embedded deep within the darkness of the same Earth. The tree is nourished by both the darkness and the light; the worlds of the inner feminine and the inner masculine are united within the trunk of the tree, which, in turn, creates harmony and fusion throughout its entire body. The tree is a perfect symbol of Unity in Diversity, of Yoga amongst this myriad of ever changeable forces.

We can also think of the roots and branches as being the diverse limbs of Yoga. Each branch or root is ever connected to its Source, sprouted from the same seed and, although one may seem drastically different than the other, each are striving towards that same Source, Spirit or Divine.

The symbology of a tree is both inspiring and all encompassing. To fully examine it in itself could potentially lead on to an understanding of what Yoga is; to embody an experience of that Tree within ourselves and feel that Unity within every cell of our beings.

My purpose in likening yoga to a tree in this case though is more to convey that there are countless different paths that lead us through and to Yoga, and we can see this in the many different styles and schools of Yoga in today's society. Some of these branches include Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga (as conveyed by Sage Patanjali), Jnana Yoga (Yoga of Higher Knolwedge), Karma Yoga (Awareness in Actions), Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion), Nada Yoga (Yoga of sound) and the list could go on and on.

Each and every one of these 'branches,' or even a combination of them, has the potential to lead us to the deepest Truth within ourselves. It is truly up to the practitioner and the attitude with which they approach the practice.

For me, a true Yogi is one who can see the validity in each of these paths, who embodies humility and doesn't see one path as being 'superior' or more 'special' than another, but rather recognises that what is best for them, is not necessarily the way that suits all. With this view, we are able to be happily observe and accept as each individual unfolds in their own unique way with tolerance, understanding and faith, and without prejudice, knowing that each of us must forge our own unique path to Truth and non separateness.

Often when I am teaching, I look at the practitioners in the class and think to myself that not one of them are practicing the same yoga, even though it looks that way. The inner journey is different for each of them. As a practitioner, it is important to connect with our own inner guide or Guru. The tools we use to make this connection will be different for each of us. Remember; Unity in diversity.

Yoga is Vast. Its essence is all encompassing and unimaginably boundless. Therefore, a person who is Awakening or Awakened, who has never even heard of Yoga, but walks through life with awareness and evolution, is still a Yogi. Any path that works to expand or stretch us beyond our limited perceptions, is developing yoga.

For Yoga is Unity; Yoga is the realisation of Source, Spirit or Divine. It is the unification of the universal consciousness with the individual consciousness and it is the work that we do to become open and receptive enough that we may embody That.

Yoga is ever present, ever alive and shows itself to us in uncountable forms. In order to experience it we must discover and tools and develop the path that works for us, that speaks our own inner language and allow that to evoke a sense of presence and life within us. We must become both unshakeable in our center and ever adaptable amongst our dualistic, changeable environment. Yoga is our natural state. Whatever tools we use to surrender into our natural state are subjective; they work for us and lead us to truth, but are not 'the only' way.

As a wise sage said: 'The Truth is One, the paths are many.'

Hari Om Tat Sat

Some interesting thoughts on Neuroplasticity

Inspired by a workshop I took with Bo Forbes, a truly inspiring teacher!

Neuroplasticity is the capacity for our brain to learn through experience... therefore, with repeated effort and practice (not force) the seeds for possitive transformation are planted and, over time, allowed to bear fruit.


This means that we CAN change - but there is no such thing as a quick fix. The Nervous System reacts defensively when we expect it to change over night. It's actually counter productive. In order for change to be long lasting, we first need to accept, and then take gradual steps that evolve over time and do not shock the nervous system. (hence why sometimes you participate in a workshop - feel great for a few days, then back to the old ways - the intellect gets it, but the body and Nervous System didn't get time to catch up).

We are living in a quick fix society and media, technology and our fast paced society have encouraged us to expect things to happen instantly - or we can dispose of them and move on to the next thing.

If we continue to think and live like this, we will only increase the patterns of stress, depression and anxiety within ourselves. If we start to become more in tune with our body, mind, emotions and spirit... we will naturally slow down, release our unrealisitc expectations and allow things to unfold without force. This is true of physical, mental and emotional evolution.

Yoga teaches us the qualities we need to do this (mainly presence), at the same time as allowing for positive transformation to happen naturally - you feel great, and the body/mind shifts of and by itself as awareness increases - it's a by product of the practice!

So, patience really is a virtue, and one worth cultivating. It leads to a deeper acceptance and tolerance of yourself and others and allows the space and time required to truly experience and embody the long lasting benefits of Yoga.

Welcome to the Blog!

Hello everybody!

Welcome to my new blog page for www.living-breathing-yoga.com  !

I hope to write here once a week to keep you all updated and informed on interesting themes and topics to do with Yoga.

My aim is that by creating this page, we will all be able to extend, stretch and expand body, breath, mind and spirit so we can all live and breathe the beauty that is Yoga.

With Aum Prem & Shanti Shanti Shanti

Hayley