Eating Air

I like to share some of the realizations that have arisen from my yoga practice because I believe documenting them is important. I think it also helps to counter, if even a little bit, how yoga attainments are portrayed in mainstream media (e.g., floating handstands, extreme range of motion, complicated transitions- all body oriented). I hope these insights might assist others in recognizing their own attainments, which may not be as obvious as finally finding balancing in a headstand or tree for example.

Here is my latest report- I was with some good friends over the weekend and during the time we spent together I was able to notice when I was “eating air”. “Eating air” is a phrase I came up with during a home retreat to describes the times I am not present. The content of the retreat gave me to ability to see how, even when I was hungry for connection and presence, I was gulping in nothing (distraction and busyness) as if it could possibly satiate. Most of us are hungry for the sweetness of presence, but instead we follow distractions, eat air, and remain hungry.

Why eat air when there is so much wonderful food right in front of you? There are many reasons we do this, and perhaps one of the biggest reasons is because we don’t actually realize we are doing it. It may seem obvious gulping huge quantites of air will not satisfy a hunger, but I am here to report that I eat a lot of air! I also eat a lot of food, and I notice that when I am eating something I really like, the first and the last bites are the best. The first bite is exciting and gets the juices going. The last one I tend to savor because I know it is the last one. It is hard for me to stay present to the deliciousness of the bites inbetween. They are sometimes just filler, and I might as well just be eating air. This weekend my observer mind (which I am continuously seek to strengthen through practice) was telling me loudly when I was eating air. This observation gave me a chance to wake up and be present. It was a gentle, proverbial and constant, slap in the face.

Even though I was getting slapped again and again I was kind of excited because I had all of these chances to wake up. When I was able to notice I was not present, I was able bring myself back to enjoying the finely prepared meal in front of me- each and every bite.

This waking up can be practiced in asana class quite effectively. If you do an asana and you are distracted or confused, or in pain (which will then become the main focus) you might loose the nourishing qualities of the pose. If you are comfortable, confident and connected to a pose, you will be fed by that pose on several levels.

Are you “eating air” when you are doing asanas? Or, are you making it toxic for your system? If you forcing a pose to look the way the person next to you is doing it, or you are struggling really hard to “acheive” the pose, you can be making it toxic. It is like when we eat something that is inherently good for us, but we eat too much of it and it makes us sick- the healing food has become poisonous for the system. The pose that should be healing might be causing damage.

We have a few great opportunities to help you achieve “stheerum sukham asanam” (a steady, comfortable yoga pose) this fall. The "Introduction to Yoga" with Sarah will give you a solid foundation for your practice, especially if you're new to yoga and unsure about terms, names, or where to place your feet. When you have the basics down, you can more easily stay present.

If you have been practicing for a while and want to deepen your understanding of yoga, and how your mind can connect to the poses through observation, consider the "Yoga Immersion" starting in October. This immersion is suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners. It will help you connect mind, body, and energy to the pose, creating a heavenly meal that deeply satisfies. This seminar is an excellent opportunity to nourish yourself at increasingly deeper levels.
Please see below for more information on these sessions:
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