Uplifting Ideas from the Heart of Yoga

Raga and dvesha, or attachment and aversion, are where things may start to get kinda real for us. The idea of wrong knowledge and misplaced identity may require some intellectual work to understand. But when it comes to how much our likes and dislikes rule our world, the examples are many, often colorful, and can be painfully real. Join Anna and Shari for their latest discussion to help you use the wisdom of yoga to reveal your own compassion and wisdom.

What if we could just relax a little? Join Anna and Shari as they talk about asmita, the second of the kleshas. In yoga philosophy, we often talk about the BIG S Self and the small s self. Asmita is the small guy. He’s mighty, though. Don’t get me wrong. It’s because of asmita, we’re able to have a human experience and rediscover our Essence (or Big S) Self. This individual-ness is meant to be a flexible and resilient container for our self-awareness. But because of our mistaken perception, we start to believe it is the very self in its entirety, and the result is that we suffer. Why? Because when seen in that manner, we can’t help but notice that this so-called self is fragile, ever-changing, unsustainable, and painfully alone.

Anna and Shari are discussing avidya - wrong understanding. If we approach yoga as a way to fix what we think is broken about us, our tight hamstrings, our spinning minds, we will limit our experience of its potential, and we’re stuck telling ourselves the same old pernicious lie – “I’ll be happy, when . . .” One the other hand, if we recall, at least on some level, that yoga is meant to reintroduce us to our whole, perfect, resplendent self, then the potential is none less than unconditional wellbeing and total freedom. That’s a whole lot bigger than touching our toes.

Join Anna and Shari as they dive into the kleshas and kriya yoga by exploring who this divine self really is. What about the days where you just can't connect to that? How does self-compassion help you begin to experience the your sacred essence self?