Yoga comparison teaches one how to use wisdom in comparisons , thus correcting it to discernment rather than limiting judgement
Yoga comparison: drop the coin.
In order to drop the coin one needs to be in a higher place. One can find this place on the yoga mat.
If the yoga mat is your universe then you will find peace and joy when you practice yoga.
You will be able to take what you learned on the mat outside the studio, imagining that your mat is with you wherever you go. One of the teachings is to learn to drop the coin of yoga comparison.
When on the mat, your focus is on you and your breath.
When off the mat, in your day to day world, your focus is on you and your breath.
When the yoga mat becomes your universe then you are on the track to a happier, less stressed life, no matter how full your schedule is. No matter how many ‘crises’ you may encounter. All the day will flow like your yoga.
When the yoga mat becomes your universe you will begin to see the invisible ladder that rests on your mat. This is the ladder of evolution of thoughts, initially focused on the body. But the rungs of the ladder will enable you to climb to Spirit thru mind. Liken the mind to the brain as one likens love to the heart. And thru the mind, begin to climb the rungs of the ladder with your imagination focused on the positive and lasting.
In order to find this ladder the yoga mat must become your universe. Before seeing the ladder you must empty your pocket of all coins. Today we will talk about the coin of Yoga Comparison, the contributor to competition. Competition always puts the mind in a stress mode. (Read more on stress and competition)
Like all coins, this coin of yoga comparison, has two sides: better-than, less-than. Comparisons are a boomerang that comes back to the holder of the coin and the judgements (Yes, comparison is a judgement.) affects the coin holder. One can learn how to change a comparison to wise discernment.
(read more here)
What does this mean? When I work on the yoga mat, my thoughts, my experiences,and my concentration needs to remain only with that, which is on my mat, “Me”. It may seem self-centered and selfish, but one realizes, with time, that while on the yoga mat, it is essential to let go of any judgements. The more one practices the more one discovers the art of selfishness. This is all done by climbing up the ladder. For the 75-90 minutes of yoga, train your mind to think of nothing off the mat. Let go of image. I am not someone’s mother, daughter, aunt, friend, brother, father, uncle, son, boss. I am my authentic Self, connected to no one and to everyone. I have nothing to do but breathe and no one to take care of except me. When I do this I fill up my coffers with the energy and wisdom needed to put my needs equally with everyone else’s when I leave the studio. When I do this, I have created a space for new ideas and manifestations to enter. I have tossed away the coin of comparison.
This coin of yoga comparison, when tossed aside, helps me to have a better yoga practice because I do not see what others in the class are doing that is worse than me (Pride). I do not see what others in the class are doing that is better than me (false Pride). Both actions of comparison diminish my practice by sapping the energy from the practice, occupying the mind with negative thinking.
In yoga it is essential to do one’s personal best. What is right for your body and mind today is to be your focus and your place of acceptance, today. Perhaps, today, your right hip is tight and you cannot move into a warrior variation; tomorrow you may. When tomorrow comes and if you move that hip into the warrior variation do not be discouraged when on the following day you cannot repeat that action.
Accept your movement, wherever it is, while on the mat, in this period of time. Yoga is always gentle and concentrated no matter how rigorous the class might be. The gentleness comes from your own mind that focuses on the breath. The mind stays concentrated as you focus on the breath and not the yoga comparison of what the person across the room can do, or that thought which says, but “I have been stuck here for a month. What’s wrong with me?”.
When one accepts the movement or stillness of the practice an odd thing happens: one moves ahead. When one judges the movement, it is the judgement that harnesses us and keeps us locked into yoga comparison, weighing us down with those coins.
Empty your pockets before your next yoga class by emptying your mind of yoga comparison. It is a good place to start. It is a good place to begin to search for the ladder that will lift you up. Then this practice can travel with you off the mat as well. Let your yoga mat be your uninverse.