Beginner’s Mind and Yoga
“Time goes from present to past.”
― Shunryu Suzuki
Beginner’s Mind, shoshin in Japanese, is rooted in Zen Buddhism and describes a fresh approach to learning things. An attitude of openness, eagerness, and letting go of preconceptions when studying.
When we feel we ‘know’ something or think of ourselves as an expert, this can block us from receiving new ideas or discovering new and fresh ways of doing something.
Viewing things without the filter of ‘knowing’ declutters your vision and nurtures creativity.
Children and creativity are synonymous as children growing up in a healthy environment approach life with wonderment, open-mindedness, and curiosity.
The opposite usually happens to us as we ‘grow up’ and our minds become cluttered with beliefs and understandings which can close our minds.
Albert Einstein’s famous quote, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school,” reminds that we are a sum of our own experiences and perceptions until now, rather than an automation that accrues information without discernment. Our ability to discern is directly related to our self-awareness.
The good news is that we can deepen our awareness by conscious practice.
Yoga practice moves from the gross to the subtle, harnessing the breathing to connect the two, helping us develop awareness.
In a well-balanced yoga class, we engage in all three meditative practices of mindfulness, absorption and self-reflection. You develop awareness, connecting to your breathing, and focus on what you need to release and what you need to engage to move through your practice.
Yoga in the traditional sense is practiced to clarify the mind. As we bring what was previously unconscious to the surface, we can find space to stand back from the emotions, thoughts, and impulses that dominate our way of being, and learn to move from a quieter space.
Observing and freeing ourselves from the constructs we have created to protect our vulnerable selves, is rather like detaching ourselves from the chains of our past.
As we develop awareness, we can allow our stories to unfold without over-coloring our present with the paintbrush of memories, whether unpleasant or pleasant, allowing space for growth and the unexpected to blossom.
Natasha Gunn: Yoga Therapist awakeyoga.nl, Programme leader Hot Yoga Eindhoven
Photo: ©Hans Jakusch – Tree frog in Costa Rica
