It’s a nightmare! This COVID-19 fiasco.
I mean, is this really happening?
How are we supposed to deal with this, especially the lockdown?
To suddenly get used to a slow-paced life, well, almost stalled in this case.
One-third of the global population is under coronavirus lockdown as I write this post. Including 1.3 billion people in India – the biggest ever lockdown in the history of the world.
Even if you aren’t directly affected by the disease, stranded on the road, or fighting poverty, lockdown is challenging.
For most of us who are used to running a certain race every day, life has come to a standstill. And this stillness when not tackled in the right manner, has the potential of driving a lot of us crazy (update – it did).
Luckily, practicing Yoga for some years helped me cope with the lockdown better, and what will be even more amazing, is if the same can happen to you 😊
So, here is the introduction to yoga practices that can be practiced during the lockdown or in any difficult situation in life, so you come out of it stronger and wiser.
5 Yoga practices for difficult times
Mitahara or moderate eating
The Yogic practice of ‘Mitahara’ or moderate eating taught me something that I never knew could be learned. Our happiness doesn’t lie in food, our tongue just makes us think so.
You see, bondage of any kind is never good, it always limits what you could have achieved if you were free.
Food is the source of thoughts, as mentioned by one of the greatest Yogis of India Swami Sivananda. By modifying your food you can modify your thoughts – have better ones and better yet, avoid negative ones.
I am not talking about eating this or not eating that. No.
Decide for yourself what and how much you want to eat because NOW you have time to listen to your body. Such complicated issues as mental health, are being treated by inculcating the right food habits even by modern Doctors.
You can feel fresh and active even while at home if you just eat the right kind of food.
While you practice Mitahara, you will also be minimizing your chances of going out to refill unnecessary food supplies. It will also let you channel your resources towards people who are pressed for food right now.
Mauna or keeping silent
‘Prajalpa’ or unnecessary talking, is mentioned as one of the hurdles in the practice of Yoga. And I only understand its importance after going into a state of natural silence.
For the first time, I started to know myself – my thought patterns, my doubts, my challenges. How incessant talking to others and even to myself drains my energy so much. My whole life changed for the better dramatically because of that one instance of silence.
Modern Science has only recently discovered that practicing silence develops the brain regions associated with learning and memory. Although given what Yoga has known for centuries, much more is yet to come.
Our uncontrollable urge to say what we are thinking is a way of running away from self-managing our emotions.
Only if we can learn to be silent, we would be better aware of ourselves. And, by being aware of how our mind reacts, we can build a much better and more conscious life for ourselves and those around us.
Make the most of limited socializing because of COVID-19. Instead of finding bylanes to engage in a conversation, enjoy selective silence. You can select one day of the week to remain silent or just a couple of hours as you get into the practice.
I can guarantee you will discover a new you, all while you sit at home 😉
Abhyasa or regular practice
One thing that a lot of us realized during COVID-19, is how good health can save you a lot of bad times.
So many people are facing difficulties regarding getting medicines for their current illnesses. People coming down with other medical issues have to somehow manage at home even if they need to go to a Doctor.
Only these people can understand how much of a blessing it is to have good health at this time.
This is exactly what the Yogic principle of ‘Heyam Dukham Anagatam’ talks about. Although not only related to physical pain or disease here, this Sutra reassures us that by practicing Yoga one can avoid pain that is yet to come.
Maintaining good health of the body and mind should be the basic pursuit for every human being because we don’t know what turn life will take all of a sudden.
The practice of Yoga Asana and Pranayama has helped me do that, as have the other important principles of yoga beyond exercising.
So, take your health into your own hands while you are at home and start with these practices to keep yourself healthy and happy. Be regular in your practice or abhyasa, as we call it, and reap the benefits.
Dinacharya or discipline for the day
While you may have fallen out of routine suddenly, you can still maintain your own schedule while at home. Assign a particular time every day for certain activities.
‘Dinacharya’ is of immense importance in Ayurveda for a healthy body and mind, which is the basic pre-requisite for practicing Yoga.
In fact, maintaining a schedule gives us more sense of control as we engage the mind productively. Ideally, you should pick things that were neglected in your normal schedule, like your health, your kids, or even personal growth.
Include things like an exercise session, spending quality time with your kids, or even taking up a short course online. You can be as productive as you want.
Do not forget to schedule time for relaxation, enjoyment, and just ‘being’. For ‘What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare’. Just stare at the trees swaying in the wind, flowers blooming with all their glory, and use COVID-19 lockdown to rejuvenate.
Sadhana or the pursuit of self-realization
COVID-19 is unprecedented in terms of its influence on the largest population in the world.
Never before were so many people forced to live a solitary, or extremely limited life away from their normal routine.
So, even if you are one of the lucky ones with resources to fulfill your basic instincts of eating, sleeping, and mating – are you really satisfied? Do you still not feel empty inside somewhere, looking for more?
What is that more? What will give you that ultimate satisfaction? Because whatever you thought will give you that, only gave a few minutes of satisfaction when you achieved it.
Because the goal of a ‘human’ life is self-realization, and we cannot stop wanting more till we achieve that.
You see, we don’t want more, WE WANT ALL.
And all means all, it cannot be less than ‘ALL’ – the WHOLE truth, the realization of the self. The realization of this truth itself is the biggest Yoga practice of all.
Because realization is THE only goal of Yoga.
So, even if you only start with Asanas i.e., physical yoga exercises, stop running away from your mind and start internalizing.
There never has been a better time to make you curious about the secrets of this Universe, than COVID-19. What with your changed state of life and all overnight – YOU WERE NEVER IN CONTROL.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going
There always are two sides to a coin – we can either look at COVID-19 as a disaster or as a magic gateway into the higher possibilities of life.
You can go crazy thinking you aren’t achieving anything sitting at home, or you can start your journey for the ultimate realization.
I repeat, you can be as productive as you want.
So start building your awareness around the above-mentioned principles. Practice different aspects of yoga and soon you shall transform this seemingly bad time into the best time of your life.
Because the only way out of COVID-19 is in.