Allow Your Inner Light To Shine

Do you know you have an inner light? Maybe even… do you know that within you resides a light that is free from suffering and pain? In the Yoga Sutras (1.36), Patanjali speaks of the eternal light that resides in each of us. That light resides at the heart center and he describes that light as free from all suffering, grief and pain. Reflecting on this idea of your own inner light, free from all sorrow or pain, can serve as a positive support to help calm the mind, reduce stress and light your path no matter how dark it may feel around you. For me, yoga as a practice, is about discovering that light, illuminating that light, supporting that light in everyday life. I remember when I first discussed this sutra with my teacher. The sutras were quite difficult to comprehend at first. They just seemed so out there but when I attempted to “break it down” and apply it to my life this is what I came up with. Below is an excerpt of a written assignment about this sutra.

“I came to yoga at a very dark time in my life. Overall, I knew deep down inside that my life was good, my upbringing was filled with love, we (my 5-siblings) always had what we needed and my parents, extended family and friends were all supportive, loving and compassionate people. I had so many years of joy, happiness and success that I could never imagine feeling so alone, dark and sad. Then life happened. I tried to keep telling myself "it could always be worse" in efforts to stay positive. That mantra only served me for so long. After years of “doing” yoga I find myself studying the sutras and I started to practice yoga. It’s rocking my world! I realize that my inner light is diminished or covered by the trauma I had suffered from for years. My dullness, pain, sadness and hardness were all veils that were covering my light. It was a very scary, emotional and life changing experience to acknowledge how dark I was for so long. In those years of darkness there were still glows of light: like meeting my now husband, exploring the world, meeting my nieces and nephews, having my family and friends and finding my first teacher. I was a “productive” member of society but at times I was overwhelmed with feelings of loss and sadness. When I reflect on this sutra, I realize that life can cover this eternal light that resides in us. When we get knocked down, hurt, scared, injured or whatever the mind wants to protect, so it starts to put up walls, shields and veils. If we are not aware of these walls or veils our light can be diminished and sometimes in the worst cases it is extinguished completely. But if we have the courage, good teachers and support system we can illuminate that light once again! Once that light is acknowledged, with practice and over time that light can guide us and withstand even in the darkest times. Now, I understand what B.K.S Iyengar meant when he said, "Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim, the better the practice the brighter the flame." Now I practice yoga not only on the mat but off the mat. I have faith in my life, my practice and my inner light. Whenever I feel lost, I turn inward and reconnect to that light and remind myself, it is free from all suffering and pain.”

Phew… that was deep! Re-reading that assignment brought tears to my eyes. I have come so far. The pain is still there, sometimes greater than expected but now I don’t let the pain veil the light. I want my inner light to shine! I turn to sutra 1.36 often and use the mantra, "My Inner Light Shines." I chant the sanskrit Visoka va jyotismati (VEE-SHO-KAH-VA JOE-TISH-MA-TEA) not only in times of darkness but at all times! To maintain my focus on the inner light I repeat the mantra and extend to four areas to illuminate and warm myself from the inside-out.

I welcome you to explore this mantra and allow your inner light to shine! In darkness and light, reconnecting to the inner light will help you along your journey, clarify your purpose and remember the “better the practice, the brighter the flame!” Here is a guided meditation around illuminating your inner light.

P.S. yoga isn’t/doesn’t allows have to be so heavy. As Martin Luther King Jr said, “Only in darkness, can we see the stars.” We need the courage to overcome the darkness so we can see and be the light!

What story will you write in 2016?

Ahhh January. It snuck up on me. Maybe it was the weather… For me, the New Year doesn’t start until I am well into the first week of January. Yes, that’s right I ring in the year as we all do but I don’t make any plans or decisions until the dust has settled. In fact, I feel that I am only able to reflect on the previous year on January 2nd because on New Years Day we just relax! Some years, my family (husband and dog) will enjoy the day on our own other years we are sharing the day with loved ones. No matter the number or age of participants we set the tone as soon as we awake by staying in our PJs for as long as possible! Our mantra for the day, “Its time to let go.” Let go of the past because it’s done, it’s over and of anticipation of the future because… well you just don’t know what it holds.

And here’s the thing with every cycle of breath there is a new moment. Life is a series of moments and each cycle of breath you are in a new one that will never be repeated. It’s like writing a book, each day is a blank page, imagine that in a given year you have the opportunity to write 365-page book, the best book ever! Ok, well if you go by my calendar of the holiday season, which technically ends on January 6th (you can look it up… I swear it follows a Christian feast day called Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day…thanks catholic school!), you have 359 days to write your own story for 2016. Each day you flip a page and it’s a new start. For 2016 consider a new perspective in creating sustainable motivation. Set an intention, not a resolution!

One year, yes on January 1st, I did let go of setting resolutions and switched my focus to setting an intention. I felt, and still do, that when I set an intention not only am I setting myself up for success I also understand that there is a deeper meaning of what I am trying to cultivate in my life and how I want to live it. Setting an intention is unlike setting a resolution or a hard “I will do or not do X,” rule you are setting an intention on how you want to fill your page.  An intention is a quality or attribute you want to embody in your life with every breath you take and move you make.

An Intention is a clear and specific wish, or as simple as a word or phrase you’d like to align yourself with, like “open your mind and heart,” “love,” “softness,” “strength,” or  “compassion for myself and others.” Be sure to frame your intention to be a positive force or driver in your life. so instead of saying “stop being a coward,” or “spend less time alone,” choose the intentions, “be courageous” or simply, “community”.

Here are some guiding questions to help you frame an intention, ask yourself:

• What do you intend to create or cultivate in your life, for today and even for the coming week?

• What do you intend to create, accomplish, or change in the coming week? In the coming day?

• How do you want to show up in life?

• What are three things outside yourself that support your intention?

Your intention should be closely tied to your personal thoughts, values and perspective on life. Setting clear, short-term intentions really helped to focus my energy, attention and alleviated a lot of stress and tension.

Listen to this guided meditation aimed at bringing clarity to how you want to live, how you want to show up in order to "write a book" you would be proud of in 2016. Have the courage to pivot away from resolutions and embrace setting an intention.