Writing, Yoga, and the Real You By Pamela Seelig

Writing, Yoga, and the Real You

By Pamela Seelig

I remember the moment I decided to write Threads of Yoga. I was in a bookstore searching for a book that would help me bring deeper yogic teachings into my classes. As a yoga teacher, I loved the physical aspect of the practice, but it was working with the mind and the breath that fascinated and drew me in. I wanted to weave these teachings into my yoga classes but, after some clumsy attempts, soon found that this is not so easy. 

I was fortunate to have experienced teachers who could seamlessly merge yogic wisdom throughout their classes, stretching both minds and bodies. For me, ideas and inspiration sometimes flowed, but often, especially when life was busy, I taught the same thing again and again or just focused on the physical postures. I knew I was skipping yoga’s essential teachings and shortchanging my students.

I found some excellent books on the history of yoga and commentaries on ancient texts but no guidance on sharing this wisdom with a twenty-first-century audience. Then, one day while once again searching a bookstore, it hit me; “I could write that book!” “I should write that book!” 

My inner narrator immediately kicked in, resisting the idea, “You can’t write a book!” “Who do you think you are?” “You need a Ph.D.!” but it was too late. I knew in my heart that I could and would write that book. 

The makings of Threads of Yoga percolated in my imagination for years. At first, I thought the book would be a resource for yoga teachers and practitioners, but I began to think bigger. I had many friends who were not interested in the physical practice but still wondered, “what the heck is all the fuss about yoga?” Or, “why is this three-thousand-year-old practice still a thing?” I wanted Threads of Yoga to serve them as well. 

I did not fully appreciate the extent of the task ahead, but fortunately, yoga helped right from the start. One of the great gifts of yoga is learning to recognize and subdue the inner narrator or thought stream in our heads. So many of us, myself included, mistakenly assume that who we are is that inner voice narrating throughout our lives. 

Yoga teaches us that who we are is not our thoughts, and believing that we are our mind is a huge misunderstanding and a root cause of suffering. This misunderstanding is known as avidya in Sanskrit, the language of yoga.

When we mistakenly think we are our mind or thoughts, we are subject to its workings. The saying, “the mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master,” reflects this over-identification with the mind. Lying awake at night unable to quiet the racing thoughts is an example of being subject to or prisoner of the mind. 

We can typically hear the inner narrator when we try something new or take a risk. The thoughts try to keep us “safe” by discouraging change and keeping us fixed to the status quo. For example, when the idea to write a book popped into my head, the inner dialogue quickly kicked in, “You can’t write a book,” “Who do you think you are?” When we know the inner voice for what it is, we can begin to shift our relationship to it and naturally subdue its power. 

Writing a book became possible only when I recognized the “monkey mind” and began to ignore or distract it. Yoga teaches myriad ways to quiet the mind. For many, the way in is first through the postures, or asanas, in Sanskrit. For example, when balancing on one foot in Tree pose (Vrksasana), we can no longer mentally rehash a past conversation or worry about tomorrow’s work issue. The poses keep us in the present moment.

We practice being in the present moment when we meditate. Meditation, a central aspect of yoga, allows us to work directly with the mind encountering our thought stream head-on. We learn to observe and experience for ourselves that we are not the thoughts but rather their witness. 

With this new awareness, we see beyond the inner chatter and can begin to explore the depth of our being. For many, this is the beginning of the spiritual path. When we disrupt habitual thoughts or quiet the mind, we tap into creativity. It is from this quiet space or stillness where inspiration and original ideas arise. The silence provides access to the deeper aspects of who we are. 

Whether writing, painting, doing the laundry, or having a meaningful conversation, when we clear out excessive thinking, we can bring forth more of ourselves. We can show up and direct our lives from our center. 

The ancient tradition of yoga is a how-to guide or roadmap leading us to the quiet space within. With stillness, we perceive more clearly and can let go of self-doubt. This journey of self-discovery is not always easy, but it allows us to more fully express ourselves in whatever ways we choose, be it writing or any other endeavor. Yoga helps us to find ourselves and bring more of who we are into this world. 

—

Pamela Seelig is a yoga teacher and the author of Threads of Yoga: Themes, Reflections, and Meditations to Weave into Your Practice. She began her yoga and meditation journey in 1991 when an illness interrupted her Wall Street career. Along with helping recovery, the impact of her meditation led to a lifelong pursuit of perceiving and sharing yogic wisdom through practice, teaching, and writing. She completed her teacher training in 2006 at Integral Yoga Institute in New York. Pamela considers Swami Satchidananda, the founder of Integral, as her primary teacher (root guru), but she has trained with many of the top yoga luminaries in the world today. Pamela is a fervent student of yoga and continues to deepen and expand her yogic knowledge and understanding. Along with Hatha yoga, Pamela also studies Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and is a certified Raja Yoga instructor.  While grateful for so many brilliant teachers along the way, she regards the practice itself as the greatest teacher. She lives in New Jersey where she practices yoga, teaches yoga workshops, writes, and empty-nests with her husband, Bob, and dog, Bodhi.  

 

THREADS OF YOGA: THEMES, REFLECTIONS, AND MEDITATIONS TO WEAVE INTO YOUR PRACTICE

Deepen and enliven your yoga practice with 30 themes based on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras that can inspire on and off the mat.

Yoga draws many practitioners because of its physical benefits, but it is often the experience of peace that people return for. Threads of Yoga supports those seeking to learn more about yoga’s deeper spiritual teachings. Each short chapter introduces a foundational yogic theme, such as letting go, the breath, the yamas and the niyamas, and the chakra system. Each theme is accompanied by practices, including meditation, complementary poses, breath work, or quotes to contemplate. It is an ideal guide for both practitioners and teachers who want to connect with the spiritual wisdom of yoga, deepen their personal practice, or develop and support a theme for yoga class.

BUY HERE

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: How To and Tips