Post date: Apr 15, 2013 2:34:3 AM
Among the 5 Yamas, are Santosa (contentment) and Tapas (fervor for the subject). I think they go together. We should have a passion for our goals and do our best, but also be detached from the outcome and be happy with what we have. When I practice Salamba Sirsasana (head stand), I often think about these two Yamas. I have had neck trouble since I got married 11 years ago (yes, my husband is a pain in my neck ;) It happened a couple of weeks before our wedding day when I washed my face. I couldn't move my neck for a few days. It got better after lame treatments (I was abroad and couldn't get the kind of care I liked) but it has never felt right ever since. Then it got worse after having our second child. Those who have neck issues would understand how it is terrible to have a stiff and painful neck and shoulders. Anyway for the trouble I had and the fear of falling down, the Head Stand pose was something that I felt I could never get. But I have always tried and was patient with myself. Every day, even for just a few seconds I tried and thought about Santosa. Even though I couldn't do what all the other students do in class, even though my posture was far from being good, I thought of the virtue of contentment and gave myself cheer. For some period I couldn't even do the Head Stand, I just had to hang on the wall with ropes. But I was still content and I had hope that one day I could do what I wanted to do: a peaceful and stable Head Stand for at least 5 minutes. Almost every day when I practiced, I thought about Tapas. I never gave up. I believed that I could do better each day than the day before. I studied and observed how others did it and tried to imitate. Then last summer, when I had a break and spent a month in Korea, something happen and suddenly I could do a peaceful Head Stand for longer than 5 minutes! And it has been stable ever since then :) I know it will go away if I don't keep practicing, but for now I want to give myself a pat on the back for stepping over the first bar.