Class Theme Week 3 Oct 2014- Many Paths of Yoga & Kriya Yoga

Still finding much inspiration with "Heart of Yoga". This week's theme touches on the many paths of yoga and how they all lead us to the same place- samadhi. Desikachar's closing line in this chapter is interesting.. "If we really follow one direction in yoga as far as we can go, then it will lead us along all  paths of yoga.
The focus for classes this week draws from the 3 aspects of Kriya yoga- tapas (e.g. asana, pranayama) together with Svadyaya (inquisitiveness, self discovery) and ... yep, Isvarapranidhana again! Quality of action rather than desire for outcome. So in class we move between dynamic movement, holds, and moments of stillness for self inquiry. Were there moments of union of body, breath and mind? Were we present with the action and not the outcome (or end!)- even during a challenging balance? Observing our mind takes training, especially to do this with equanimity.