Jul 31-Aug 6: Lesson 112: Abhinivesa (Fear)

What has helped me with my own fear, worry or anxiety is, ironically, not to be afraid of it. Feel it. Look at it. Know it. Befriend it. Can you feel it in your breath and your posture?

A message is trying to get through that is very important for us to hear. That message might be "Stand strong" or "Believe in yourself". Or it might be "Surrender". "Trust".

What is the message of your fear?

Jul 24-30: Lesson 111: Dvesa (Aversion)

Yoga Psychology has identified five afflictions of the mind. One of them is Aversion. The most relevant and useful aspect of this klesa is that we can utilize it's force. When we experience aversion or dislike or hatred or irritation, we can harness that energy and channel it in the direction of our higher self, toward love and connection with others.

Jul 17-23: Lesson 110: Raga (Attachment)

We suffer when we are attached to our thoughts. This is a simple but profound yogic truth. What is something that is causing you stress or suffering in this moment?

Identify the thought. For example, “My back hurts”. We learn in yoga that pain is only suffering when we are resisting it. Can we accept the pain as wisdom from our body? Is it guiding us to make a needed change in our lives? Is it giving us more compassion for others in pain?

Jul 10-16: Lesson 109: Asmita (Egoism)

Is your ego getting in the way of your path towards Peace and Contentment? As one of the five “afflictions of the mind” in Yoga Psychology, let us take a look at this dis-ease called Egoism.

The Yoga Sutras describes Egoism as the misidentification with the “I” part of our human experience. Most people immediately think of someone who might be overly self-important, proud, arrogant, boastful...egotistical. While this is a form of Egoism, our understanding broadens when we look at the other side—one who has a weak self image, low self confidence, can’t speak up for themselves, allows themselves to be taken advantage of.

Jul 3-9: Lesson 108: Avidya (Ignorance)

How the mind takes its first step towards suffering

The easiest path to Joy is to surrender our Ego. Our ego, or sense of "me and mine", is not all bad . . . it helps us when it is under the direction of our Spirit. Ego can bring forth the expression of our love, peace, discipline, courage, and other truths. But when the ego is not tamed, much like an untrained puppy, it wreaks a lot of havoc by steering us, ultimately, toward pain and suffering. It is this "ignorance" or "forgetting" that Yoga Psychology calls Avidya.