Antarayas: "Overcoming obstacles to practice"
BKS Iyengar writes:
‘When there is perfect harmony between body and mind, we achieve self-realization. Yoga teaches us that obstacles in the path of our self-realization indicate themselves in physical or mental indisposition. When our physical state is not perfect, this causes an imbalance in our mental state, which is known in Sanskrit as citta-vrtti. The practice of yoga helps us to overcome that imbalance. Yogic asanas, or poses, can cure vyadhi or physical ailments, and redress angamejayatva or unsteadiness in the body, Shvasaprashvasa, which translates as "uneven respiration"- an indication of stress - is alleviated by the practice of yoga. Asanas tone the whole body. They strengthen bones and muscles, correct posture, improve breathing, and increase energy. This physical well-being has a strengthening and calming impact on the mind’. (BKS Iyengar, Path to Holistic Health p.36)
Iyengar’s statement that the state of the body affects the state of the mind expresses the Yogic understanding that the body is a visible expression of the underlying state of the consciousness. The body is not separate to the mind. Obstacles may therefore be physical or mental.
Yoga sadhana means Yoga practice. Sadhana is the focus of Yoga Mandir's Practitioner Programs.
The theme for the Summer Intensives program is ‘Overcoming obstacles to practice’.
Patanjali tells us that the sadhaka (student) will encounter the antarayas (obstacles) as they develop a practice. The obstacles to practice are named as:
1. disease,
2. inertia,
3. doubt,
4. heedlessness,
5. laziness,
6. indiscipline of the senses,
7. erroneous views,
8. lack of perseverance and
9. backsliding.
Ideally, a practice of Yoga is conducted as an abhyasa (a long uninterrupted enquiry) in order to progress, and yet most of us experience the difficulties and distractions of a busy life. It is reassuring to know that experiencing obstacles to practice is common to us all and is not new. Yoga Mandir offers its students a rare opportunity to join its teaching faculty as we embark upon an abhyasa to instil in us the routines of practice to address the antarayas (obstacles).
How will the Summer Intensives program help to overcome your obstacles to practice?
The Summer Intensives program runs over three weeks of January with enrolments available for one, two or three consecutive weeks of attendance. Attendance is both morning and evening for 90 minutes, Monday to Friday.
The Summer Intensives program is structured to support the Led Practice programs that run throughout each term. Over the period of the Intensives we will progress through the standard Yoga Mandir Led Practice sequences commencing with the Foundation sequences in Week 1 and concluding with the Established sequences in Week 3. Each evening the Intensive teacher will focus on teaching the asanas in one of the practice sequences. The following morning the group will practise these asanas in a Led Practice conducted by a Led Practice leader, whilst the teacher observes and adjusts the students. Students will be shown how to record sequences using annotations and suggested timings. Working with a set sequence will help students to cultivate concentration and to observe their reactions and responses.
This is truly a significant opportunity for us to come together to evolve our practice commitment for the year ahead. Students of all levels of the Institute are encouraged to consider participation in all three Intensive weeks, or at least in the week appropriate to their Practitioner level.
Students who attend the Summer Intensives develop greater clarity, confidence and commitment to practice. It is unusual to have this level of access to a yoga practice and the full three week Intensives program may be akin to an extended retreat experience. However, rather than being away from distractions, the student experiences the effects of bringing the yoga back into their regular life each day and each night.
Summary of the three weeks of the Intensives program
The Summer Intensives run over three consecutive weeks in the morning and evening, Monday to Friday. Each week covers the syllabus of either the Foundation, Developing or Established practitioner programs.
Summer Intensive Week 1 - 14 to 18 January 2019 Teachers
Foundation (open to all students of yoga)
Summer Intensive Week 2 - 21 to 25 January 2019 Teachers -
Developing (open to Yoga Mandir Developing Practitioners and above OR any student who completes Summer Intensive Week 1)
Summer Intensive Week 3 - 28 January to 1 February 2019 Teacher - Alan
Established (open to Yoga Mandir Established/Maturing Practitioners OR Developing Practitioners who have completed Summer Intensive Week 2 OR any student who completes BOTH Summer Intensives Week 1 AND Week 2)
(The Intensive will run on the Australia Day Public Holiday, 26 January)
Times:
Summer Intensives Weeks 1 to 3 are conducted through morning and evening sessions for 5 consecutive days - Monday to Friday.
- Morning 6:30 - 8.00am
- Evening 5:45 - 7:15pm
Cost:
The cost of each week long intensive is $240. As this program has a Led Practice focus, students enrolled in more than one Summer Intensive week may enrol in one Led Practice in Term 1 without cost. Students attending all three Summer Intensives may enrol in two Led Practices in Term 1 without cost. Usual eligibility conditions for Led Practice enrolments apply (eg: to enrol in a Led practice students must also be erolled in a Yogasana course).
Eligiblity:
Enrolment in Week 1 is open to all students of Yoga. See table below for further details and eligibility for enrolment in weeks 2 and 3.
Bookings:
Bookings open in week 8 of Term 4. Please book early as places are limited.
Summer Intensives dates 2019
| Week | Dates | Teachers | Syllabus | Eligible students |
|
1 |
14-18 Jan |
Sabrina & Sally |
Foundation |
Any student of yoga |
| 2 | 22-26 Jan | Demeter & Ela | Developing |
a) Yoga Mandir Developing Practitioners and above b) any student who completes Summer Intensive Week 1 |
| 3 | 29 Jan- 2 Feb | Alan | Established |
a) Yoga Mandir Established/Maturing Practitioners b) Developing Practitioners who have completed Summer Intensive Week 2 c) any student who completes BOTH Summer Intensives Week 1 AND Week 2 |