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Ishvara Pranidhana - Surrendering to the Divine

On August 28, 2013 in General by alexcordoba

Ishvara Pranidhana - Surrendering to the Divine

This week, to dive deeper into the inquiry and invitation of Ishvara Pranidhana

On the Mat

Reflect

First, notice, without judgement, if you are constantly steeped in an effort-filled, attachment-based, egocentric practice. For example, driving to class you are in a rush-you ‘HAVE’ to be there, you need ‘your’ spot in the room, your breath is short and strained-stuck, you always go to the deepest place in every pose, and you are in constant comparison mode with the other practitioners.

Next, notice, without judgement, if your entire experience is more external than internal; meaning, you have not once connected 1) to your heart, 2) to your spirit, 3) to the offering that is your practice, that is your breath, that is your life, or 4) to she who dances with and co-creates alongside you on this journey called life.

Take Action
Pick a pose with which you are struggling–your nemesis pose–where you are constantly straining or restraining. This week, practice consciously and intentionally using the breath to surrender deeper into the pose. Let go of perfecting the pose; rather, give yourself to it fully and surrender the outcome. Hint: close your eyes.

“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control. Thus your practice is a process of surrender, never one of control.” Julia Cameron

… trust the offering is the same no matter what the outer form looks like.

Off the Mat

Reflect
Identify an area of your life currently in process to which you have dedicated much effort and will, where you are struggling with control and a need to see or have a desired result. Or, perhaps, identify an area of your life where you are feeling powerless.

Take Action
Make a conscious decision to practice “turning it over” to a power greater than yourself. You’ve done YOUR work. Now allow yourself to simply be in the process and trust that all will unfold when it is suppose to and as it is suppose to. Easier said than done? Yes, I know. But possible? Indeed!

“The essential surrender happens within you, it has nothing to do with anybody outside you. The basic surrender is a relaxation, a trust — so don’t be misguided by the word. Linguistically, surrender means to surrender to somebody, but spiritually, surrender simply means trust, relaxing. It is an attitude rather than an act: you live through trust.” Osho

“When you surrender to what is and so become fully present, the past ceases to have any power. The realm of being, which had been obscured by the mind, then opens up. Suddenly, a great stillness arises within you, an unfathomable sense of peace. And within that peace, there is great joy. And within that joy, there is love. And at the innermost core, there is the sacred, the immeasurable. That which cannot be named.” Eckhart Tolle

Just Maybe

Create a surrender box/a surrender journal/a surrender altar. Each morning, write down on a slip of paper whatever needs to be surrendered or turned over to Spirit. At the end of the week or month, take the slips of paper and burn them, allowing the transformational element of fire to send all that you are releasing, letting go of, surrendering out into the Universe.

Enough. These few words are enough. If not these words, this breath. If not this breath, this sitting here. This opening to the life we have refused again and again until now. Until now.

By Alex Cordoba

Alex Cordoba began practicing yoga in 2001 and from that very first class she fell in love. It was when on the mat that Alex felt truly at home. Like a voice is to a singer or a paintbrush to an artist, yoga became just that for Alex’s life…it was her muse through which to share her passion to the world. In Alex’s classes she weaves together yoga philosophy, asana, pranayama, laughter, messages to inspire and uplift so that she can offer a unique and creative journey to her students every time they come to the mat. She encourages her students to practice compassion and patience towards others and themselves, to invite breath in, to find laughter, humility, and grace on the mat, and to be open to the possibilities and the adventures that arise when one dances with uncertainty.

Start Practicing Ishvara Pranidhana with the following YogaDownload Classes:

The Place in the Middle - Roger Martin Pressman