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In Stillness and Silence, Do We Like the Company
We Keep?
This is a popular quote spouted by teachers at the
yoga studio where I practice. It is very powerful, isn't
it? I wanted to take a moment and interrupt our
regularly scheduled articles to share the profound
experience that I had last weekend on a silent
retreat.
For those of you who don't know, my yoga teacher-
training was done through Jonny Kest, Center for
Yoga in Birmingham/West Bloomfield. As a part of our
training, we are required meditate for 20 minutes daily
and to also spend an entire weekend in
silent meditation, collectively, at facility chosen for this
process. I took my training in 2003. Our silent
weekend was spent at a Catholic retreat center in a
suburb of Detroit. I remember how difficult this
weekend was for me, both physically and emotionally.
This was my first attempt at meditation for greater than
20 minutes per day. My legs felt like lead throughout
the entire weekend and was told that this discomfort
was not just physical pain, but emotional pain being
released. The only talking that was allowed was
interaction with Jonny Kest when he called each of us
up to meditate with him individually and check on how
we were doing.
My second silent weekend was accomplished in 2006
with another teacher training group. It was held in a
similar venue--very spiritual as well. I wanted to revisit
this process with a different outlook. The discomfort
was not as profound, although it was there, but I
allowed so much more letting go to take place. I
surrendered into the meditation process.
Last weekend was my third sit, which took place at
Camp Tamarack--a place that I was very familiar with
as a young camper. Although not as spiritual, being in
nature was very healing. This meditation too brought
extreme discomfort to my lower extremities, but Jonny
asked me to use this opportunity to experience this
discomfort in order to practice non-reaction in day-to-
day life situations. In this meditation, I allowed
manifesting to take place.
The type of meditation that we practiced was
Vipassana. We simply observe breath and body
sensations. We practice not reacting to the physical
discomfort that arises as an attempt to learn not to
react to the discomfor that comes up in our own lives.
For those of you who are not familiar with
Vipassana meditation, the following is taken directly
from the Vipassana website as a means to
educate:
Vipassana, which means to see things as they really
are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of
meditation. It was rediscovered by Gotama Buddha
more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as
a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art Of
Living.
This non-sectarian technique aims for the total
eradication of mental impurities and the resultant
highest happiness of full liberation. Healing, not
merely the curing of diseases, but the essential
healing of human suffering, is its purpose.
Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-
observation. It focuses on the deep interconnection
between mind and body, which can be experienced
directly by disciplined attention to the physical
sensations that form the life of the body, and that
continuously interconnect and condition the life of the
mind. It is this observation-based, self-exploratory
journey to the common root of mind and body that
dissolves mental impurity, resulting in a balanced
mind full of love and compassion.
The scientific laws that operate one's thoughts,
feelings, judgements and sensations become clear.
Through direct experience, the nature of how one
grows or regresses, how one produces suffering or
frees oneself from suffering is understood. Life
becomes characterized by increased awareness, non-
delusion, self-control and peace.
Many individuals who I practice yoga with have gone
on to do 10 day meditation sits in various parts of the
country. This has been extremely powerful for my
peers and hope to be able to arrange this time for
myself in the near future.
In addition, I watched a DVD at the silent retreat, for
the third time. I told Jonny Kest that each time
watching it for me brought me something new. This
DVD featured a minimum security prison in Seattle,
Washington that brought Vipassana meditation to
their inmates. Inmates were interviewed following
their sit, where they shared their transformation. Even
the staff discussed how so many didactic skills are
given, but to truly "experience" a process is so much
more powerful.
For those of you who have worked with me or have
participated in our yoga-based Reconnect with
Food
programs, you know that we incorporate meditation
into our programs as meditation is the highest form of
yoga. A weekend sit may seem overwhelming
reading this, but twenty minutes of one's day is a
small amount to carve out to begin your healing work.
Begin slowly. Pay attention to breath, posture--sitting
upright, and "thinking." When thoughts drift in, label
them is "thinking" and start again. It is hard to
erradicate your thoughts completely, but begin to give
your thoughts less importance.
Build on this practice as you move forward. Every step
is a step in a positive direction. I am grateful for the
opportunity to practice yoga on a regular basis and for
the tremendous yoga community we have in
Michigan.
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Inner Door Center Comprehensive
Eating
Disorder Programs
Located in the eclectic and trendy town of Royal Oak,
MI. Ask about housing for those who live out of the
area.
We participate with several health/managed care
plans.
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