Training Yoga

Why train ourselves?

We train ourselves at all levels so that the body, breath, and mind are not obstacles on the journey inward to the Center of Consciousness.

Training builds the bridge we traverse to the realization of the Self.

Sometimes farmers water their fields by building little dams along the normal flow of water. In this way they can direct the water to one part of the field at a time. When they want water to go into a new area, they simply remove, or open the sluice gate, and the water flows automatically. This is what we are doing when we train ourselves.

We train our senses, body, breath, and mind so that they are not obstacles, and the peace underneath flows naturally.

Observing, Accepting, Understanding and Training go together

- Training cannot happen without understanding.

- Understanding cannot happen without accepting the realities of ourselves.

- Accepting ourselves cannot happen without observing, or being aware.

Thus, we start by observing ourselves at all levels.

- Then, as more is revealed about ourselves, we come to accept those new insights.

- Then, from the acceptance of ourselves comes greater understanding.

- Then, we are able to train each of those aspects of ourselves.

- From this self-training comes the ability to coordinate and integrate the various aspects of ourselves, so that we may have direct experience of that which is deeper.

Training the Ten Senses

Our five cognitive senses and our actions are often dictated by habit. Sensory data comes in, deep habit impressions are created and stored, and we respond. Advertising and marketing people are well aware of how this works.
Like it or not, for better or worse, we are inundated with stimuli to which we later respond in our actions, speech, and thoughts. At other times, our actions, speech, and thoughts seem to be on auto-pilot, under the control of the deep impressions of our unconscious.

Train the ten senses: To train the ten senses means to have active choice over how we direct those senses and actions. It comes in stages.

- Observe each of the ten senses--indriyas of cognition and expression.

- From Observation, Accept the nature of the senses and their operation.

- From Acceptance, come to Understand how the senses operate, and their relationship to the four functions of mind.

- From Understanding, learn to Train each of the ten senses

Training the Body

There are many perspectives from which one can work with, or train the body.
While yoga is a wonderful system to work with the body, there are many others which complement that process. Whichever methods are chosen, there is nonetheless a process of going inward by observing, accepting, understanding, and training.

Train the body: To train the body means that we work at making it strong and flexible, so that it is a good home in which to live and to do our spiritual practices.

- Observe the various aspects of the body--parts, systems, five elements.

- From observation, Accept the nature the body and its operation.

- From Acceptance, learn to Understand the various aspects of the body.

- From Understanding, learn to Train the different aspects of the body

Training the Breath

Breath is like a balancing point between the body and the mind. By regulating the breath, the body learns better how to relax, and the mind becomes calm and peaceful. Fortunately, the past couple decades have seen breathing practices become an important part of stress management programs, moving it away from being considered only a part of esoteric or mystical practices.

Train the breath: To train the breath has to do with making it smooth, calm, and serene, such that the connection between body and mind flows naturally. To do this, some of the breathing practices may be quite vigorous, leading to others which are quite subtle.

- Observe the various aspects of breath--inhalation, exhalation, and subtleties.

- From observation, Accept the nature of the breath and its operation.

- From Acceptance, come to Understand how the breath operates.

- From Understanding, learn to Train the breath to be under conscious control, and to have that smooth, slow, calm and serene breath be the new habit.

Training the Conscious Mind

Train the conscious mind: To train the conscious mind is one of the most important things to do in preparation for deeper meditation. It means to observe the minds functioning, while gradually allowing it to become quiet.
This is a gentle, quieting form of training rather than an active training such as physical exercise. The ability to train the conscious mind rests on the foundation of training the body and the breath.

- Observe the functioning of the conscious mind, including exploration of the four functions of mind, which are very important in yoga meditation

- From observation, Accept the nature of the mind and its contents, whether the thoughts are perceived to be "good" or "bad".

- From Acceptance, come to Understand how the mind operates, along with the way streams of impressions naturally flow, often unconsciously driving actions and speech.

- From Understanding, learn to Train the mind to operate from our choice, rather than mere habit, creating new habits of mind, and learning to use the mind as a friend rather than enemy.

Training the Unconscious

Train the unconscious: Gradually, the yogi comes to have positive control even over the thought processes which are normally unconscious. This control is not in the form of suppression, but of allowing the thoughts to flow without interruption, allowing them to gradually still themselves, and to witness the beautiful interplay of the four functions of mind.

- Observe the functioning of that part of mind which is normally unconscious, that which usually happens out of sight, in dream or unconscious fantasy.

- From observation, Accept the fact that it is natural for the unconscious mind to stir into a flowing stream, connecting and re-connecting many images and impressions which have arisen from the still bed of the river of mind.

- From Acceptance, learn to Understand how the unconscious mind operates in the waking and dreaming states.

- From Understanding, learn to Train ourselves even at this level, learning how to witness the unconscious stream, while remaining focused, yet undisturbed, unaffected, and uninvolved in the stream.

Training the Subconscious

Train the subconscious: Gradually, the yogi comes to have positive control even over the thought patterns when they are not active, whether in the conscious or unconscious (such as in dreams).

This means exploring and examining the seeds of thought patterns in their latent form. It is these seeds in the subconscious which leave their dormant stage, and stir in the unconscious, and then lead to actions and speech.
The subconscious, or latent part of the mind is the reservoir of the deep impressions (samskaras) which influence karma. In deep meditation, the yogi examines these impressions in such a way that their strength is reduced or eliminated.

- Observe the deep impressions in their latent form

- From observation, Accept these deep impression
- From Acceptance, come to Understand of how these deep impressions (normally only experienced in deep sleep) stir within, so as to become the unconscious mental processing (and dreaming state), and in turn drive conscious actions (in the waking state).

- From Understanding, learn to Train these deep impressions, which means to weaken or eliminate these deep habit patterns.