Downward Facing Blog

Teaching and practicing yoga in Bangkok has always been interesting when I found words in Thai that are the same or very similar to Sanskrit.

For example, the second yoga sutra: “yoga chitta vritti nirodha-ha”… easy for Thais because they know the words Chitta = jit (”consciousness”) and Nirodh (”not being born/ceasing”)

Some recent inspiration has had me practicing differently lately.

Yoga is traditionally defined as nirodh (stopping) of one’s Chitta-vrittis (mind fluctuations). Kind of a blank, briliant state.

Other texts define yoga as when nirodh of the prana (breath/energy).

Using this, I’ve been moving into postures, making the body become completely still, stop breathing (exhale and wait), and then notice that my chitta/mind becomes totally still at the same time. It’s marvelous, and a kind of inner infinite sensation results.

Try this: next time you practice, take a moment to really STOP. Notice that by directing the breath and body to stillness, the mind follows and the result is divine!