Tag Archive for: Niyama

The religious study component presents some very interesting areas for self-reflection.  I consider myself to be an Agnostic (one who holds the view that any ultimate reality-as God-is unknown and probably unknowable).  I would probably be best served to have some real in-depth discussions concerning the agnostic and atheist (one who denies the existence of God) definitions.  At any rate I have some very strong beliefs regarding the concept of God. Organized religion is a concept that I don’t believe in and do not support. I have no faith based system (belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion; firm belief in something for which there is no proof).  I consider myself to have a belief system (a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing; conviction of the truth or some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon, when based upon examination or evidence).  Additionally, I consider myself to have a spiritual outlook (Spirit: akin to blow, breathe; an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms; supernatural being or essence).  With this said, areas for further discussion and evaluation are: religion, faith, belief & spirit.  With respect to God, I look at the Sun as fulfilling this ‘category’.  Without the Sun (God) there is nothing else on our planet, Earth.  The Sun (God) makes everything possible—without the Sun (God) there is no Prana (lifeforce/breath).  This relationship (faith, religion & spirit) and associated challenge(s) was recently discussed in the Denver Post-April 4, 2011, Fitness Section, shedding additional light on a very personal and emotionally charged topic.  Question: Who/what keeps the Earth, Solar System, Universe functioning?  With this said, we move to another area of the religious, faith, belief & spirit discussion—Evolution, Creation and Intelligent Design.  I am a firm believer of evolution.  Not to be over-looked and a topic for another paper is the big-bang theory—how was the universe and our solar system created?  What additional forms of life exist “out there?”

The self restraint component of Brahmacharya continues to be a very interesting personal study:  Primarily my diet and lifestyle (if I remember correctly, it has been said, ‘we are what we digest’).  By choice, I have a very simple lifestyle and a clean diet.  By simple definition I am a vegetarian (have been strict for the past four years & hypocritical-ate fish-since 2001–then a number of years ‘on and off’ since 1976).  Other areas of self restraint/abstaining from as it relates to lifestyle, includes but not limited to:  alcohol of any kind (Jan. 2000), gluten (Jan. 2009), sugar/high fructose corn syrup, soda, fast food, tobacco and most forms of strict western medicine.  These are several of the very important components of my lifestyle/diet that I am of aware of on a daily basis.  By my own admission I am very strict, rigid and focused with regards to my diet and ingestion of nutrition.  I leave room for moderation and self-evaluation based upon each individual situation.   Equally relevant, in my opinion, is the concept of moderation (vs. abstaining from)—I am continually striving for more moderation (balance) as it relates to my pursuit of a ‘quality’ life.

The Niyama discussion relates to the concept of Santosa (contentment).  I am generally very content and satisfied with what I have (and/or don’t have).   Recently this was brought to light in two separate situations both relative to my passion for bicycling.  FACT: I was not accepted into the 2011 Leadville Trail 100 MTB race.  This process involved a lottery.  I have numerous ‘connections’ in the cycling community that I could have called upon to get me into the Leadville race, however, I decided not to lean on those connections.  I have totally accepted this situation—I am content, able to concentrate and tranquil.  FACT: Shortly after this event I had an opportunity to purchase a fully-loaded MTB—a dream bike, but way too much bike.  The price was right, however, the timing was not due to personal financial circumstances.  After a significant amount of self reflection I discovered I was content with my current MTB—an adequate MTB, that gets the job done and will continue to provide me with the ability to ride and race.  I am content with my decision—I cultivated Santosa relative to this specific situation.  As I grow older I am more content with my business (a pizza concept)—focused on what we have vs. continually looking for ‘what might be.’  With an appreciation of Santosa I challenged myself to start the re-invention process.  Embarking on this YTT process along with my Aroma Touch therapy training I have fulfilled two components of the very challenging and dynamic re-invention process.  This re-invention is a function of the overall economic environment, aging process and a general desire to introduce athletes and ‘agers’ to the wonderful benefits of yoga.

This was a very interesting exercise in self examination.