consolidate one’s practice
This question came in from a student recently: I've been enjoying working through the courses at the back of Yoga the Iyengar Way. I'm approaching, "In the fourth month, consolidate practice so far." I've googled this "consolidate practice" idea and haven't yet found anything very concrete. What does it mean? How do I do it? Is there something I can read for further guidance?
Answer: Following the sequences in Yoga the Iyengar Way is a fine way to support your home practice. The asanas and the sequences start with basic poses and build over time, just like we do in a series of classes. There’s also an element of repetition—sequence A and B one week followed by A and C the next, B and D the week after that, etc. In both Yoga the Iyengar Way and in Light on Yoga, there are particular weeks where the plan suggests consolidating one’s practice. Depending on what you think that means will direct how you practice.
One of ways to look at this is to simply repeat some of the sequences from the previous weeks. The opportunity to repeat gives one time to reflect on what has been learned—are you gaining confidence in any of the asanas? Are there asanas that you don’t yet understand or are struggling with? With this information, you can alter your practice going forward knowing you need to address areas where your practice doesn’t feel strong. Maybe you realize that balance poses are where you feel most challenged, so you repeat the sequences where these poses show up.
Repetition isn’t the same as duplication. Repeating a series of sequences can help you expose different layers of understanding as you get to know the asanas. The saying that we never step into the same river twice is true of our asanas. What I “know” and am aware of in today’s Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog pose) is not what I will know and feel tomorrow. Repeating the sequence but keeping your primary focus on a particular part of the body and its role in the asanas can be engaging and enlightening. Likewise, one could use the breath—what is the role of the exhalation? How do I want to move when I’m being hyper-aware of this phase of the breath? What does this expose in the asana?
This self imposed pause can also be a time for you to assess how your practice is changing. B.K.S. Iyengar suggests in Light on Yoga that once one feels comfortable with the practice of all the standing poses, one need not do them every day. He makes this suggestion at week 19. For most of us, it may take many years to get to that point.
The practice of asana is a many years’ long endeavor. Although it may include some short-term projects, we need to treat it like a never-ending project with time set aside for evaluation and reflection. Taking time to repeat sequences and poses you are familiar with will give you the opportunity to observe that which can’t be observed while you are in the stage of learning asana.
The goal of asana as stated in the Yoga Sūtras (II.46-48) is steadiness and ease. This is cultivated by regular practice. Initially we are only aware of the effort to bring steadiness to the body and mind. As we become more familiar and adept with the asanas, we need to cultivate the ability to be at ease in the postures. It is only then that we can experience samāpattibhyām—the mind absorbed in the infinite, drawn to meditation without disturbance or distraction of the body. While good technique that you’ve learned in asana class and cultivated in your home practice is one part of this, you also need to anticipate how you will prepare the mind for a meditative state. Reading about the different aspects of the mind from the perspective of the Yoga Sūtras will help you understand the path that lies ahead and the obstacles that you may encounter on that path and how to overcome the obstacles that could thwart your progress.
June 4, 2021