Gleaned from Conference on February 16, 2013:
It’s very possible for a man to look strong on the outside, but be weak on the inside. Take this statement to mean physical, mental, emotional, etc. strength it really doesn’t matter, the statement can still be applied. Yoga works on the inside strength.
There are three important parts of asana practice. There is the Posture: the posture aligns the body and brings calmness to the body and mind. A yoga posture should be stable. In order to achieve stability the practitioner must take the postures many many repeated times. There is the Breathing: if the breathing is not correct then the circulation of blood through the body will not be correct. The yoga practitioner must tune the breath. This means to synchronize the breath with the yoga postures and with the vinyasas in between the postures. The inhale and exhale should be of equal length. If the breathing is correct all toxins will be removed from the body. Many years of asana practice with proper breathing will make a strong heart, lungs, and nervous system. There is the Gazing: there are 9 in total, in the Ashtanga system. The gazing point, the drsti, brings more concentration to the practice. Gazing in one place puts all the mind’s concentration in one place, effecting a state of dhyana, or meditation. When the body and mind are stable then automatically dhyana happens.
Yoga practice effects change in the body, breath, mind, and the gaze. The first three are old hat, but we don’t hear much about that last one, the gaze. The idea that a practice can change where you look is quite radical. The yogi learns to look at one thing at a time and to look with intention and focus. As the yogi’s gaze changes, the world at large become less distracting. Through the specific use of gaze the ability to focus is increased.
What about the bandhas? There is all this talk about the bandhas, but they haven’t been listed in the three important things for asana practice. How could this be? Well, my friends, this is because the bandhas should already be there, since they should be engaged all the time. Mula Bandha is the key; if it is correct the other bandhas will be correct. Mula means source, and mula bandha is the source of control of the mind. By practicing mula bandha all the time the old man becomes young and the young man becomes healthy.
Take your practice in the morning, when there is less distraction, less noise, and less pollution in general. The morning air is undisturbed and fresh. Take your practice indoors. Practicing in the open air allows the energy developed during practice to dissipate, so take your practice within walls and allow the energy to accumulate. There also tend to be fewer distractions indoors. Work towards the withdrawal of your sense organs so you can look inside. The focus of your practice starts the previous evening. You must attend to your evenings, include some quiet time, some time for reflection.
Always be questioning. When you read the Yoga Sutras question. When you read shastra question. How is this to be applied? What is to gain? What is to be achieved? Let the Yamas and Niyamas arise within you; let them develop and grow within you. YS II.28 yogaangaanusthanad asuddhi-ksaye jnana-diptir-aviveka-khyateh: by practicing the 8 limbs of yoga (Ashtanga yoga) the impurities of body, speech, and mind are diminished. From this diminishment arises the light of knowledge and the true Self is understood.
Do your dharma. Don’t know what your dharma is? Protect the truth. That is your dharma.
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