DAILY In the garden, it is important to grow. In a Practice, it is important to grow. When we stagnate it becomes impossible to blossom. Petals and potential fall unseen back into the earth. Yes, there is always another time, another cycle, a new chance to become, but why not now? If we can but let our tears water us, our pain teach us, our knowledge fertilize the soil, we grow profusely.
What of weeding? Who will choose us if our thorns prick? Who will love us if we stink? What if we emerge deformed? When we are attentive we find a gardener right for us. It is possible to bloom without help, but we become lush and fecund with the help of a good gardener. We are more able to grow powerfully when someone weeds, fertilizes, and waters besides ourselves, and as importantly, when someone allows us to do the same for them.
Some of us are roses, needing lots of extra attention, and some of us are wildflowers, wanting little, but we all grow as lovers when someone takes time to watch us blossom, and nod appreciation. Most of us manage to survive, despite ourselves, for the will to live is the strongest force there is, next to love. But to move beyond survival, that is the job of a Practice. A ‘growing-practice’ demands weeding out doubt, fears, addiction, and laziness, and a good gardener overcomes by growing knowledgeable, attentive, hard working, and willing to risk. A formidable gardener listens to the plants, converses with them, sees who they want to become, and admires every effort. That is when the garden blazes into glory, and the earth is glad.
“The rose is beautiful and scarred…but which is which….Too often we love in spite of the thorns. Let us love because of the thorns and in spite of the blossom. Only then do we find true love.” Jennifer Cooper
Asana: Mahamudra/The Great Seal is a powerfully simple pose that seats us on the earth, stills the mind, challenges the body to extend spine, and realize breath fully ….all traits of a good gardener. The position is like Janu Sirsana, where you sit with legs extended, and pull the R foot into the groin. Inhale, lift chest, expand, lengthen spine and extend torso out over L leg and hold whatever part of the leg your hamstrings allow. If you can, grab the foot, or wrist behind the foot. Maintain a flat upper back and long torso. Hold after inhale, pull belly in, and pull Mula Bandha up, if working at that level. Exhale and hold the emptiness, pull upward from base of perineam. Repeat 5-8 breath cycles. Do other side.
Health Notes: This Pose increases hamstring, inner thigh and spine extensions, and moves greater circulation over perineal floor. It can be a deeply grounding pose, especially with focused breath work.
By stimulating the abdominals, this Pose can help with prostatitis, and type II Diabetes. By increasing breathing capacity, it can assist with allergies, asthma, and weakened immune response.
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