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2009 Can-Fit-Pro Fitness
Professional of the Year Award Finalist!
Maureen has been chosen as one of the 3 finalists for the
Can-Fit-Pro Fitness Professional of the Year 2009 Award. This
award recognizes a Can-Fit-Pro certified and practicing professional
member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, motivation,
and technical skills and who has inspired clients to achieve
their goals. The winner will be announced on Friday, August
21 at the Can-Fit-Pro Conference – the largest conference
of its kind in North America with over 5,000 attendees. Wish
us luck!
***
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July 30th, 2009
Mudita - Gladness
by Maureen Rae, RN, E-RYT
Underlying the physical postures of yoga (Hatha Yoga) is
an ancient Indian philosophy that has been around for approximately
3,000 years. The principles and practices of this way of thought
are as applicable in today’s society as they were way back
when, at a time people surely faced similar obstacles to happiness.
Yet, today - here in North America - much of the way that yoga is taught is from a
purely physical point of view. The ancient and healing teachings are being diminished,
overlooked, and even lost. Yes, the postures are strengthening and toning. Yes, the
breathwork is physically purifying and energizing. But what’s the point of practicing
postures and breath on the mat a couple of times a week while ignoring the more
important teachings that can surely lead us to equanimity?
The Yoga Sutra tells us of the nine obstacles to Yoga (keeping in mind that the word
‘Yoga’ does not mean just physical postures!). These nine distractions of our
consciousness - ways of thinking that can keep us from reaching a place of
contentment - are listed as:
- Illness
- Langour (mental dullness)
- Doubt (negativity, skepticism)
- Heedlessness (lack of foresight)
- Sloth (laziness - fatigue)
- Dissipation (overindulgence)
- False views (living under illusion - inability to face
reality)
- Lack of perseverance (giving up - not finishing what we’ve
begun)
- Instability or regression
We could discuss each of the above for a long time, but what is more to the point
is..... does Yoga teach us how to overcome these obstacles? And Yes! The answers
are there, too!
The Yoga Sutras cite 4 main ways (there are others!) to detour around the
obstacles. These are:
1. Friendliness
2. Compassion
3. Gladness
4. Equanimity
In this space over the next few months we shall endeavour to define these 4 ways
of being/thinking., and to offer methods of bringing these practices
to our lives. For me, the practice that has had a tremendous
impact in my own life, is the practice of Mudita - Gladness.
So let’s begin there.
Mudita is a virtue. Finding joy in the happiness and success
of others. This quality is found in the Buddhist teachings
and in the Yoga Tradition (as well as many others.) How easy
it is to find joy in one’s own successes - yet how difficult
it is to feel the same level of joy when someone else (with
or without good reason!) is successful.
To quote Eileen Siiriwardhana "Seeing the good in others and learning to recognize
and admire what good there is, is what mudita tacitly implies. Laughter and
exhilaration are not characteristics of mudita. Mudita is joy and appreciation
flowing quietly out of the core of one's heart towards others like the waters from a
spring flowing outwards from the bowels of the earth. Spontaneous and sincere
participation in another's glorious hour is possible only when the quality of mudita
is developed to its fullest."
How to begin to cultivate this quality? Let’s begin by Noticing. (I’m not sure that
there is a Sanskrit word for ‘noticing’ although likely one exists. Yoga has many
words to describe feelings. To me, this is the very first instant that I feel a mood
change. ) Noticing when envy or jealousy enters our hearts. Let’s ask ourselves the
question...Why are we jealous? The answer is likely Because someone possesses
something we do not. This is Ego speaking. - the lower self. Follow this up with the
question "Do we not already have that which would give us great joy?"
On the mat - either at home with yourself - or at our yoga studio, where we actively
encourage noncompetitive practice, we encourage you to acknowledge where you are in
your postures, and where others are in their postures, where you are in your life, and
where others are in theirs; and to consciously cultivate the healing quality of
Gladness - Mudita. Let anger and envy be gone. And....don’t forget to notice how you
feel when you engage in this practice. Notice.
As always, we welcome your comments and stories. Sharing
your experiences can often go a long way to helping others
to ‘see.’ Please feel free to email us at info@mraesyogastudio.com
Click here to read
Maureen's previous articles
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