Renewal

 

Renew (14^th century): replenish, replace with a fresh supply; restore (a living thing) to a vigorous or flourishing state,

 

The process of boundary maintenance is in fact quite complicated as evidenced by how frequently we come to realize that an influence we perceived at the time to be self-enhancing, and so allowed into ourselves, proved, to actually be self-destructive. And, inversely, influences perceived at the time to be threatening and kept at bay, proved to be a lost opportunity for self-enhancement.  Adding to the complexity is that our ongoing sense of self is also affected by how we maintain our boundaries with respect to all that comes from within-the feeling in the pit of the stomach, the intuitive hunch, the impelling concern that will neither go away nor come into clear view.

James Finley, The Contemplative Heart

 

Spring is the natural time for renewal, renewal of the earth and renewal of the self.  Yogasana practice provides the means for renewal of the body, mind, and spirit. Twists are especially beneficial this time of year as a means to cleanse the body of the accumulated sludge of winter as they rinse out the adrenals, the kidneys, the liver and all the abdominal organs.  Fresh blood fills these spongy cavities as the twist unwinds irrigating the organs with freer flowing prana.  In the yoga sutras, this practice of sauca or renewal leads to santosa (contentment).  Through renewal we are freed up not only from physiological stickiness but emotional and mental ruts which keep us stuck in old patterns that may have once served us but no longer do.  Like the trees extending new and tender shoots in both directions, we too are now invited to extend ourselves beyond what we thought was possible.

 

It can be difficult to discern which is the right next action for growth.  Does it require digging deeper in or shifting direction?  Do we need more courage and persistence or more surrender and relinquishing? In fact, renewal requires both the softening and the hardening, the opening and the closing, the vulnerability and the safety.  Sauca, the purification of the body and mind through asana can help us find the balance and flow between these seemingly opposing actions.  Asana asks us to be aware of where we are holding unnecessarily in the body, in the mind, and spirit and where we need to hold on more.  With the right balance of steadiness and surrender, we find space to grow and transform.  This is freedom (kaivalya) in yoga where we learn to navigate in the world through a more aware and skillful adjustment of our boundaries, our opening and closing.  We learn how to build boundaries up when we need that and to allow more porousness when that is called for.  Most importantly, we find a new agility to move between the opening and closing, like the lungs drawing in air in one moment and then letting it go the in the next.  The taking in dependent upon the letting go.  The letting go preparing the way for the taking in. It is in this flow between the opening and closing where we experience the boundarylessness of boundaries. This is how yoga transforms us.