Finding stillness

Sutra 2:47

prayatna-śaithilya-ananta-samāpatti-bhyām

(Such posture should be attained) by the relaxation of effort and absorption in the infinite.

You are no doubt familiar with the previous sutra 2:46: sthira-sukham-āsanam. This often quoted sutra reminds us that our āsana should be steady and comfortable, a balance between effort and letting go, sun and moon, yin and yang.

Whilst Patañjali gives us 195 sutras only 3 speak directly to āsana. Some debate if this lack of emphasis on āsana is telling, but it may also be that other texts at the time simply covered the topic sufficiently - Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and Patañjali’s focus was to share the end goal of yoga with us. So having told us that our posture should be Sthira and Sukha he swiftly moves on to say that whilst in a posture our goal is to let go of all sensation within the body and direct our minds to stillness. Easier said than done right?! Well yes, but this is the journey and a good reminder of the goal… which is never stated to be ‘putting your foot behind your head’ or such similar feats; but if you do - are you still? Are you present? Is the discomfort consuming? Or are you so comfortable that you are planning ahead?

If it’s all sounding a bit overwhelming let’s go back a few steps to Sutra 1.17 where Patañjali lists some of the different types of samadhi for us. The first being Vitarka which is where we start - we focus the mind on a physical object, something that we can bind our attention to. In Ashtanga, we have our mantra that we quietly repeat as we move through our sequence. You could also think of focusing the mind on a pose as Vitarka too - that one that we are still learning, still trying to figure out. As we enter it, all other thoughts cease and it captures our full awareness. The second type he tells us about is Vicāra which is more subtle. Back to that mantra, when you no longer need to say it, but it’s simply there - now you know it! That pose you were figuring out is now comfortable and awareness shifts from bodily sensation to the subtler breath.

I am sure you are with me now, as if you have been practicing any amount of time, you know the feeling of moving from discomfort to comfort in your āsana. Now yogi, think about where you notice your attention starting to shift… repeatedly. It could be that practice is simply too long. We can build up to a longer practice over time, but it’s hard to focus for 90 minutes straight! Even experienced practitioners will do well to include a few shorter practices, but with laser sharp focus.

This leads us into the final sutra speaking to āsana:

Sutra 2:47

tato dvaṅdva-an-abhighātaḥ

From this, one is not afflicted by the dualities of the opposition

My teacher John would say, ‘chocolate or strawberry’. Now you may have a clear preference, but can you let that go? Marichyasana C or D? Does it matter?