According to the Baptiste Yoga Methodology, the 3 Practices of Baptiste Yoga are:
1. Asana
2. Meditation
3. Inquiry
Asana (Journey Into Power): It is an access to Power, Vitality and Freedom
Meditation: It is an access to getting present and awakening
Inquiry: It is an access to self-discovery and new possibilities.
Why do yoga?
To sweat, lose some weight, be more flexible, get stronger?
To manage physical issues in your body like scoliosis and back pain and physiological issues like stress or anxiety?
It could also be ALL OF THE ABOVE and many more.
At the heart of it, yoga is meant to be a physical practice. But have you considered if there is more to yoga than just the asanas?
If Yes, then you’re in the right place.
If No - BECAUSE you DON’T do meditation or any of that spiritual stuff - you’re in the right place too.
Just think about it.
What is the true goal of yoga?
It's not about nailing that handstand nor about touching your toes.
Nor is it about taking the perfect instagram picture.
The True Goal of Yoga is to STILL THE FLUCTUATIONS OF THE MIND
Yoga Citta Vritti Nirohhah (1.02) - Stilling the fluctuations of the mind stuff.
The How is by PRACTISING NON-ATTACHMENT.
Abyasa vairagyabhyam tannirodhah (1.12) - fluctuations of the mind are restrained by practice and non-attachment.
(These two yoga sutras are part of an ancient collection of 196 Yoga Sutras, written by Patanjali more than 2000 years ago, which forms the foundation of Yoga Philosophy now.)
It’s natural for us to think; as it’s for us to breathe. But sometimes our monkey mind brings us back to the stories of the past and we create also a new illusion of a future, causes anxiety, worry, fear, doubt, resentment, anger etc.
Patanjali dictates for us to practice (abhyasa) choosing WHAT brings us continuing calmness and equanimity AND being non-attached (vairagha) to the outcomes, giving up the old stories that clouds our mind.
A simple way is to practice non-attachment is to sit quietly and reflect on what actions, speech or thoughts lead you either towards or away from calmness.
In Baptiste Yoga, this is the meditation and inquiry aspect of the Practice.
That is why if we follow ancient wisdom, asana only is not enough. At the end of the day, ask yourself this:
What is your true goal in life?
It all boils down to what is our true purpose, which is - to be happy!
Ideally we should be doing things that make us happy, but we don’t. Some or most of us may not be lucky enough to go on holidays or be doing what we love. Sometimes we could even be doing what we love and yet we’re not happy because of the continuing negative narration that we tell ourselves that stops us from being present and experiencing what is right in front of us.
Yoga makes me happy but I’m sure by now you’d have discovered that there’s always going to be a love-and-hate relationships with our body and the poses, regardless of how much love we have for the practice, how flexible or how strong we are.
The challenge is to still the monkey mind thus be calm at all times, no matter what is thrown at you.
It’s easier said than done.
Which is why Yoga is a practice! A good yoga mix of Asana, Meditation and Inquiry, if practised consistently and sincerely, will create the the calmness and equanimity that will become so much part of you that it shows up EVEN OFF THE MAT.
why PRACTISE Baptiste Power VinyasA
Baptiste Power Vinyasa (Journey into Power Sequence) is created purposefully to build a flexible and integrated health, help rinse out toxins and dissolve tensions, and if need be, release excess weight from your body so that you can have a stable and balanced foundation from which to flow in life.
Baptiste Power Vinyasa sculpts and frees your natural body by removing what does not belong authentically.
The Baptiste Yoga practice is challenging. Some students shy away because it’s too hard or some say it’s too easy.
But can you drop what you know, and stay and see what comes up?
Can you create more stira (effort) when it’s needed and can you create more sukha (easy) when it’s too easy? Can you find balance and calm in the midst of the chaotic mind?
My story
I didn’t have a typical yoga teacher journey. I struggled a lot with my inflexibility and strength and comparing myself others because I thought I’m not good enough. But I showed up every time on my mat, because in my heart, I knew there must something more than just sweating and putting my body through awkward poses.
And the something more is the 3 Practices of Baptiste Yoga, which I experienced in my 40 Days to Personal Revolution program in 2012.
We practiced, we journaled, we shared, we cried, we laughed. There’s absolutely nothing religious or spiritual about it.
The power of a Baptiste yoga practice is that it gets you into your physical body which forces you to get out your head and into your uncomfortable zone. And only in your uncomfortable zone where the real growth and healing begins.
In fact, the 3 practices of Baptiste Yoga can easily be re-named the 3 Practices of Yoga. Yoga means yoke or union - so it’s the yoking of the mind, body and soul, and ie the union of asana meditation and inquiry, that is yoga.
The ancient text has proven it. In Patanjali's infinite wisdom, he created this truth and many other truths is his guidelines for living a happy and meaningful life.
Baptiste Yoga makes it more accessible using essential modern language, so you don’t need to read the ancient texts; which you’re more than welcome to but……
For now - let’s just begin, As we are:
First you “get” into the physicality of asana. Get into a routine and make it consistent.
Secondly introduce a 5 minutes meditation every morning which can simply be just 5 minutes of sitting in stillness and being aware of your breath. And you can slowly increase the duration.
Thirdly practice writing in your journal. The following are some prompts you can use:
Do you have access power, vitality and freedom in your practice, teaching and life? If yes, where? If not, where are you stuck and why?
Where in your practice, teaching and life are you present? Where are you not present?
What can you discover newly in your practice, teaching and life?
Or you can just start with a daily gratitude practice
DO all of the above consistently with a sincere and open heart.
“You may never “get” it right, but if you are yes to come as you are and not what you think you should be - you’re on your way.”