Yoga can be full of contradictions. On one hand, the teacher emphasizes consistent effort and practice. And on the other hand, she urges you to accept yourself as you are saying, 'surrender, let-go, find ease...’
What does she want??!!
Let me try explaining :)
In yogic philosophy there are two key concepts - Abhyasa and Vairagya.
Abhyasa means consistent practice or effort.
Vairagya means to surrender or let-go of attachment to outcome.
Abhyasa is effort.
Effort is commitment.
Effort is awareness.
Effort comes from a place of learning and wonder
Effort is NOT proving, pushing, grasping.
Effort is NOT struggling, striving.
Effort comes from a place of learning and wonder. Effort is not proving or pushing.
Vairagya is surrendering
Surrendering is accepting.
Surrendering is wisdom.
Vairagya allows us to acknowledge that outcome isn’t in our control - that there may be multiple outcomes that may be ok, if not best. When practiced together, Effort & Surrendering, can help us navigate, with great equanimity, almost every aspect of life.
When practiced together, Effort & Surrendering, can help us navigate, with great equanimity, almost every aspect of life.
Like most concepts in yoga, the answer lies in allowing opposites like ‘Effort and Surrender' to coexist. Reconciling the two is subjective - different for every individual and shifting from day to day, moment to moment. Balancing the two is, undoubtedly, the mastery of yoga.
Balancing the two is undoubtedly the mastery of yoga.
So, be firm in your efforts, try again and again without regard to outcome. Outcome is not the point.
~ Rimmi Singh