Practicing Truthfulness: Conclusion
Although I did not perform in the way that I wanted this is a life long practice. Putting self judgment aside, I think that it is important for me to attempt to continue living with more conscious awareness.
Entries by derik
Student Experiment with Asteya
As part of Axis yoga’s teacher training, students conduct experiments with one of many yogic principles. This student chose asteya (or non-stealing). She focused on non-accumulation and misappropriation of her time as areas of her life where she wanted to apply asteya. She developed a hypothesis and used the practice of meditation, pranayama and asanas […]
Bringing Awareness to Consumption: Introduction
I didn’t really choose to focus on asteya as my yama experiment; I just went to the group that had the least amount of people. Oops. I struggled and procrastinated at first because it was hard to feel that this yama was very applicable to me. Fortunately, I don’t go around taking things that aren’t mine. […]
Bringing Awareness to Consumption: Observations
In contemplating these definitions, as well as the catalyst behind these actions (jealousy and desire), I began to categorize them in terms of which ones don’t challenge me, which I’ve already worked on in the past and which are still a challenge. It is the basic, material definitions of asteya that are not challenging. Stealing, […]
Bringing Awareness to Consumption: Study
I decided to focus on these two areas of asteya that challenge me most, gathering things that I don’t need (non-accumulation) and misappropriation of my time. This brought me to two different hypotheses. First, by being present and considering my buying motives I’ll accumulate fewer things. Second, by training my mind to focus I’ll be […]
Bringing Awareness to Consumption: Results Part I
On the first day I went to a clothing store to return some clothes and do a little shopping. I bought a few items without much attention to the criteria and when I got home realized I didn’t really need them. Not a great start to non-accumulation. They also didn’t fit. That’s the double whammy. […]
Bringing Awareness to Consumption: Results Part II
On another day I found that I was very focused on singular tasks at hand following a restless night of both my husband and baby being ill. The desire to take care of them focused my attention. Likewise, the days that I am most busy are the days I seem to manage my time the […]
Bringing Awareness to Consumption: Conclusion
My first hypothesis about non-accumulation did not turn out to be very accurate. The list of criteria would have been more effective if it just limited purchases to survival needs, giving me less wiggle room to justify things. But the truth is that I live in this material world and spend accordingly. This experiment showed […]
Student Experiments with Letting Go
As part of Denver’s Axix Yoga teacher training program, students experiment with the application of one of many yogic prinicples to their daily lives. This student applies the principle Aparigraha (letting go and allowing for change) to her fear of aging. Through the use of mantras and heart-opening asanas (specifically utrasana –or camel) she experiments […]
Transformation Through Letting Go: Introduction
I truly believe that the universe provides me with what I need when I need it. The self-study I chose to work within focuses on the yama Aparigraha. A fellow classmate had mentioned an example of Aparigraha in a previous class discussion that sounded like a proverbial gong in my head. I fear aging. And […]