The Right Effort

The ebbs and flows of life are continuous and so it is with our yoga life and practice. The two are intertwined: ‘What happens on the mat is what happens in life.’ And vice versa. Life is a journey and how do we navigate this journey? We are going to look at navigating this journey with ‘Right Effort”.

Yes there are outer circumstances in our life, and inner, and all the other reasons we do and don’t do, we move and don’t move, we continue along one path or stop and turn R at the next intersection, but how is it we manage our journey?

With a certain amount of effort or effortlessness you could say, we find the journey may flow.

Balancing Effort with Ease

Do you remember the Goldilocks story – that’s too hard and that’s too soft and that’s just right! When are we too hard, gripping and holding on, when are we too soft – letting go and dropping or collapsing, when is it just right?

That “just right” is so different for each of us on any given day and any moment, so take the time to connect into yourself and find your “just right” or right effort for right here and right now, in this present moment!

We start most classes in Savasana for this simple yet very effective reason, to tune into how we are feeling, so we can gauge our energy and then find the “right effort” for me in this moment. Regulate our energy through the class, so it may lift and open, or decrease so then release – there is no shame in resting down! Then there is the connection back to the breath: Is it there – calm, steady, none or exerted?

Right Effort – Sthira and Sukha

I have written a blog article that you can find here for more information about Sthira and Sukha. Finding your sense of ease and steadiness in the poses.

The Middle way – Where is that sense of balance and calm in the right moment? Right Effort is also known in Buddhism as one of the paths of The Noble Eightfold Path.

That of Right View, Right Intentions, Right Speech, Right Actions and Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Our effort needs to be attuned, not too relaxed and not too tight as the Buddha taught as if playing a string instrument. If the strings are too tight they’ll break, if too loose, they won’t play. Practice should be nourishing, not draining. Buddha’s Middle Way.

Gunas

Our expression of energy will display itself through our body and mind. Our states of energy or being can be changed by what we do:

Satvic – calm and centred
Rajasic – shaky and unsteady
Tamassic: heavy, lethargic

When do we need to practice to create more energy or to calm our energy. What is suitable and required to lift, balance, centre or calm our energy as required? Maybe your yoga is getting to bed to get a good night’s sleep, or minimizing your coffee and sugar intake, to coming onto the mat for an asana practice.

Please see Guna’s Blog to learn more.

Breath

As always, our breath is central – as simply as tuning into it!

Is it there?
Is it calm and deep, steady and flowing?
Is it shaky, short and unstable?
Is it gentle and calm?

Find the practice to make your breaths calm and steady = Right Effort. Find your balance this week with just the right amount of effort.

Take care everyone,
Namaste Lou xo