The 8 Limbs of Yoga, COVID-19 Style

If you are part of the large global population that takes everything the media reports as fact, you may be more than a little scared right now.

I’ll admit, I have fears of my own at this time. But this morning I am choosing to use this opportunity to TRULY practice yoga. And I’m not talking about just doing a downward facing dog to calm down and savasana to heal the world. I’m talking about practicing the heart of yoga – the philosophy.

Never in my time on this planet has there been a better time for everyone in the world to study and practice yoga philosophy, and the simplest place to start or turn to is Ashtanga Yoga (the 8 limbed path), from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Here is a review of the first two limbs, for those who could use one, and a quick intro for those who have not yet been made aware of this life saving text:

1.      The Yamas. The Yamas consist of 5 restraints:

·       Ahimsa (Non-Violence, Non-Harming)

Uh, hello Walmart shoppers! Can we all agree that it is harmful to hoard necessities because other people who need them can not get them? Let’s go further. What about the harm your hoarding is doing to the planet? Imagine the amount of emissions that are going to increase when vehicles and shipping devices must work overtime to replenish the supply that you and the members of the Cult of Hoarding depleted? The cult’s behavior is also harming a hell of a lot of people financially as the stock market tanks, partly because of them. So just knock it off, Cult of Hoarding. Buy only what you or your family or business needs, and you will also cause less harm to yourself by not accumulating more awful karma.

On the flip side, we can also cause harm by harshly judging people we observe buying what may look like unnecessary amounts of items without knowing the full back story.

·       Satya (Truthfulness)

None of us knows the full truth of what’s going on, and much of the paranoia is being spread by false rumors. Before repeating the latest news you just heard about the current situation or any situation, pause and ask yourself if it’s the truth. If you are not 100% sure, sometimes it’s just best to keep your mouth shut. There is nothing wrong with saying “I don’t know, “or even saying nothing at all. There are times when the truth is best left unspoken. In fact, a little more silence can probably benefit us all.

·       Asteya (Non-Stealing)

YES, you ARE stealing by hoarding toilet paper. Hoarding is a form of stealing because you are keeping others from accessing often much needed supplies, medicine, butt wipes, water, bananas, ice cream, and other essentials.

You can avoid stealing others’ immunity, now and always, by keeping a safe distance. Score even more good karma points by not making a big deal out of the fact that you are purposely not hugging the person you want to hug. You can also avoid stealing others’ immunity by quarantining yourself if you are sick. This isn’t the time to join group fitness classes to sweat out a virus.

Just like showing up late for a yoga class and slamming your mat and props down while everyone who arrived promptly is quiet and focusing is stealing others’ peace, so is not respecting other’s boundaries.

·       Brahmacharya (Right Use of Energy, sometimes referred to as Celibacy)

If you want to kill time by playing rabbits while stuck in your house, there are other (and I would say more important) ways to practice brahmacharya during the pandemic of our time. This is a great opportunity to practice saying no. If you are like many people who deplete themselves doing thankless tasks for people who don’t ask for help but seem to need it, this era could be your time to shone. We finally have a good enough excuse to put the practice of saying no into action so that when this chaos finally blows over, it might be easier to finally start saying no to the less obvious things, like when a friend is crying about not being able to afford her car registration and you immediately jump to the rescue and pay it, despite your friend insisting that you don’t. You know, those kinds of overbearing moments when we were so depleted from asserting our will onto others that we couldn’t even recognize when the best thing for the person we are helping is to not block them from the growth of taking responsibility.

·       Aparigraha (Non-Greed)

Walmart shoppers in the back of the room, CAN YOU HEAR ME? As stated above, “

2.    The Niyamas. These are 5 sets of observances

·       Shaucha (Self-Purification)

This one is easy and should be practiced in health and sickness. Bathe every day. Wash your hands and face often. Eat healthy, organic, fresh foods (if you can still find any anywhere). Drink a lot of water. Elliminate your bowels and bladder regularly and do not hold it in longer than you have to. Sneeze if you have to sneeze. Cough if you have to cough. Just make sure you cover your mouth. Fart if you have to fart. A fart is more than entertaining. It’s actually one way the body releases toxins. Get enough sleep (6 hours for kapha constitutions, 7-8 for vata or pitta). Exercise regularly to keep your immune system strong, mind less tense, and your body purifying. I’m still teaching my yoga classes as long as I’m healthy, and I expect all of my students to continue practicing as long as they are healthy or able.

·       Santosha (Contentment)

This might be a tough one right now. These may be stressful times, but every single one of us, no matter, is right where the universe wants us. We are all taken care of, and if we need help, right now it is available. Keep in mind that being content does not mean being happy. For me, sometimes it simply means sitting in the shit and marinating in it without losing my own. Everything is going to be ok, people. Sooner or later.

·       Tapas (Self-Discipline)

STICK WITH YOUR SELF CARE ROUTINE!!! Oh lord I can not stress this enough. You may think you need to hide in bed under the covers. You may think it’s ok to neglect your own health for the sake of checking on others who need care. How much harder is it going to be to get back into your self care routine if you put it on hold because of fear? How much quality care are you really going to be able to give your loved ones if you are running on empty and on the verge of breakdown yourself because you have not yet accepted that you are not a superhero?

·       Svadhyaya (Self-Study)

In this time of very limited contact with others, many of us are going to be forced to spend a lot of time alone with ourselves. How are you going to handle it? Do you know yourself enough to be able to survive yourself? Or have you been run-run-running for so long from this to that that you have very little, if any, idea who you are? Well I have some good news my friends. This is a fantastic time to really dive into getting to know your Self. Observe your reactions and behaviors during this time, as if you were observing the behaviors of a puppy.

·       Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender)

As with every crisis in life, we all have at least a small amount of control over something. But we are all also going to have absolutely zero control over a lot of things. Surrender to that fact. Yes, I know it is easier said than done. But it is possible, especially with practice. The Serenity Prayer can be a helpful mantra if you know it. If Sanskrit mantras resonate with you more, Om Purnamadah Purnamidam is a great mantra for accepting what is. In fact, I think this would be a great time for me to start chanting this mantra in my classes.

3.     Asana (comfortable, steady posture)

The first asanas were created thousands of years ago to make meditation easier when the body started showing signs of discomfort. The steady, comfortable postures were created to loosen up the muscles and joints, detoxify impurities and make it easier to breathe. If you already have a regular asana practice and are not sick, there is no reason to give it up now. If you do not already have a regular practice, my classes are not stopping as of this morning. If you prefer Youtube, be wary of believing everything you see and hear. Treat Youtube like the media.

4.    Pranayama (Breath Control)

So much can be said about this. The brain needs a steady supply of fresh oxygen to function optimally. Stress causes us to breathe shallow, limiting the amount of fresh oxygen the brain receives. Shallow breath, as well as holding the breath, kicks off the body’s fight or flight mechanism in which the adrenals go into overdrive. In turn, non-vital organs are slowed down in a desperate attempt to preserve life for as long as possible since the brain is perceiving extreme danger. Metabolism slows down. The body’s natural detoxification process slows down. Heart rate increases to prepare the body to either run as fast as possible or fight to the death. This fight or flight system can not distinguish between the body being chased by a tiger or the body sitting in front of a screen as the brain stresses about what it is trying to process. Simply taking a moment to control your breath can be enough to break the cycle of adrenal depletion long enough to make a positive impact on one’s overall health. The more often you pause to breathe, the better your health. Plain and simple.

5.    Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal)

This ties in with what I mentioned above about the fight or flight system. Sensory overstimulation can also mess with our adrenals, causing all sorts of stress which often becomes disease. Not only do metabolism and detoxification slow down in fight or flight; the immune system does as well. If you can find a quiet space, a dark space, a soft space, any space where you are able to block out as little as one sense, go there regularly to replenish your strength (ojas) and maybe a little sanity. You will be helping your own immune system, and, in turn, be helping others’.

6.    Dharana (Concentration) & 7. Dhyana (Meditation)

Concentration is a state of doing. What happens next, meditation, is a state of being. By concentrating a constant stream of focus on one thing, after some time, one naturally drifts in a meditative state. In this state, one can function amongst others but at a higher vibration, a higher frequency. Decisions are more often made with clarity and without emotion. Literal and metaphorical fires can be put out with little to no stress effect on the person in the meditative state.  

8.  Samadhi (Absorption)

There is nothing to “do” in this state. If you are ever able to reach it, do everyone a favor and cure us all.