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