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Ridingthe
WaveofBreath
StephenCope
Breathing!Wedoitalldaylong.Itisliterallyourconnectionwithlife.Andyetmostof
ustakeitcompletelyforgranted.ManyEasterncontemplativetraditionsdonot.They
reverethebreathasamagicaldoorwayintoourinnerworld.Intheyogictraditions,
forexample,thebreathisseenasthebridgetotheenergybody,andtothe
emotionalbody(orpranabody),whichisanaspectofit.
Yogisdescribethebreathaslyingpreciselyattheboundarybetweenthebodyand
themind.Thisishardlysurprising.Weallhaveexperiencedthebreathasadirectlink
tosomeaspectofourinnerworld.Mostofushaveexperiencedtheshallowbreathof
terror,orthelongdeepsighsofmelancholy.Wehaveexperiencedtheattemptto
controlourbreathtochokebacktearsandsobs.Orperhapswe'venoticedthetender
attunementofourbreathwithaloveraswesleep.
Thebody'sbreathingapparatusistheonlyphysiologicalfunctionwhichisboth
voluntaryandinvoluntary.Itliesattheboundarybetweentheconsciousandthe
unconscious.Breathconnectstheinsideofthebodywiththeoutsideworldtakingthe
outsideworldin,andexpellingtheinsideworldout.
Foryogis,thebreath'spositionasakindof"switchingstation"betweenthephysical
bodyandtheenergybodyisexemplifiedbytheroleofthediaphragm,theprimary
muscleofrespiration.Themusclesofthebodyareoftwoprimarytypesskeletal
muscleswhicharestriatedandundervoluntarycontrol,andsmoothmuscleswhich
makeupourinternalorgans,notusuallythoughttobeunderourconsciouscontrol.
Thediaphragm,unlikeanyothermuscleinthebody,isasemistriatedmuscle,and,
assuch,itpartakesofboththeconsciousandunconsciousfunctioningofthebody.
Whenthebreathisfullyopen,relaxedandfree,andwhenallofthebreathing
apparatuslungs,diaphragm,musclesoftheribcageandchestareunconstrictedin
theirmovements,wehavefullaccesstoourinternalemotionalexperience.This
patternofbreathingiscalled"abdominaldiaphragmaticbreath"becausethewaveof
breathmovesunobstructedthroughthelowerabdomen,themidlungandthetopof
thelung.Itischaracterizedbyaslow,rhythmicrateofrespiration,withalarge"tidal
volume"ofair.Yogiscallthisthe"fullyogicbreath."Itis,essentially,thenormal
humanbreaththebreaththehealthyinfantbreathes.
Becausethebreathissointimatelyconnectedwiththeemotionalbody,anyattempt
toinhibitawarenessoffeelings,sensations,andthoughtsisimmediatelyreflectedin
thebreath.AlldefensivemaneuversinvolvingwhatpsychologistsintheWestcall
"thefalseself"inevitablyinvolvesomesuppressionofthebreath,becausethey
requiredissociationfromtheemotionalbody.Manyofuscannotbeartoletthewave
ofbreathmovenaturallythroughourbody,andsoourbreathischronicallyheld,
shallow,restricted.

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Fullbreathingcanberestrictedandmostofusunconsciouslyrelyonatleastoneof
thesedefensivemaneuvers.Themostcommoniscalled"chestbreathing"or
"thoracicbreathing"whichisthebody'sautomaticresponsetofightorflightandtoall
sortsofoverwhelmingstress.Intraumaticsituations,asweallhaveexperienced,the
diaphragmisconstrictedandwebreatheonlypartwaydownintothelungs.The
lowerlobesofthelungsarethensplitofffromthebreath,andthereisanuneasy
senseofthebreathnotbeingfullysatisfying.Therateofbreathingissomewhatmore
rapidandirregular,andthereisamuchlower"tidalvolume"ofairthaninnormal
breathing."Chestbreathing"maybeaccompaniedbyraisedshouldersand
contractionofthechest.Shallowbreathingcanalsoaffectthevoice,bynarrowing
thethroatandtherebyheighteningthechokeresponse.
Inhibitionoffullabdominaldiaphragmaticbreathimmediatelycutsusofffrom
feelings.Butitalsocutsusofffrompranaanddeeplydepletesthelifeforceinthe
body.Anincreasedrelianceonchestbreathingtosupplythebody'soxygen
requirementsproduceschronicmuscletensioninthechestandabdomen,butthat's
onlythebeginning.Italsoincreasescardiopulmonarystress,increasesbloodsugar
andlactatelevels,increasesourperceptionofpain,decreasesoxygentotheheart
andbrain,inhibitstransferofoxygenfromhemoglobintotissues,andincreasesour
senseoffatigue.
Thedifferencesbetweendeepdiaphragmaticbreathingandchestbreathingare
significant,bothtothephysicalbodyandtheenergybody.Abdominalbreathingcan
increasetheamountofairwetakeintothelungsby600percentandthismakesa
hugedifferenceintheoxygenationoftissuesthroughoutthebody.Whilehumanscan
liveforlongperiodswithoutfoodorwater,tissuesbegintodiealmostimmediately
whendeprivedofoxygen.
Theimpactonthenervoussystemissimilarlypowerful.Whilechestbreathing
stimulatestheproductionofshorter,more"restless"betawavesinthebrain,full
diaphragmaticbreathstimulatesthelonger,sloweralphawavesassociatedwith
relaxationandcalmmindstates.Theslow,even,anddeepqualityoffullabdominal
diaphragmaticbreathrelaxesofthechestmusclesandcreatesacalmandrelaxed
stateofmind.
Yogisunderstoodthatevenintheabsenceofanyimmediatestressors,"disturbed
breathing,"orthoracicbreathingcouldperpetuateorrecreateastateofsympathetic
nervoussystemarousal,causinganxietystates,panic,andfearreactions.Because
respiratorymovementsbythechestarebiologicallyandinstinctuallytiedtothe
emergencyresponsesoffightorflight,theyautomaticallytendtostirupthese
feelings.
Manyofus,especiallythosewhohavebeenscaredoutofourbodiesandthosewho
don'tfeelcomfortabletakinguproomintheworld,havedifficultytrustingthewisdom
ofthebreathandtheenergybodyitenlivens.Wehavetroublelettingthe"waveof
breath"penetratedownintotheheart,thebellyandtheabdomentheseatofdeep
feelings.Thefirsttask,inthatcase,istolearntohaveafullexperienceoffeelingsin
thebodyandtolearntotoleratethedepth,range,andrealnessofthislifeforce
movinginus.
Yogisdiscoveredthathumansexperiencepranaintheformofawaveawaveof
energy,sensation,andfeelings.Inordertolearntoattunetothewisdomofthe
breathandthepranabody,weneedtolearnhowto"ridethewaveofbreath,"howto
bepresentforthewavelikemovementofenergyacknowledging,experiencing,and
bearingtheinnerworldofsensation.
Hereisasimple,yogicbasedpracticedesignedtousethebreathtohelpintegrate
physical,emotional,andenergyexperience.Itisafiveparttechniquewhichhelpsus
remainpresentfortheexperienceofthewisdomofthepranabody.

1.Breathe.Thefirststepintheprocessofconnectingwiththewisdomofpranais
consciousbreathingusingthefullyogicbreath,ordiaphragmaticbreathing.The
breathimmediatelypenetratesthefrozenstructureofthefalseself.Saysthepoet
LaoTsu:
Thesoftestofstuffintheworld
Penetratesquicklythehardest.
Insubstantial,itenters
Wherenoroomis.
Anythingthatbringsusbacktotheswitchingstationofbreathhasthepotentialto
loosenouridentificationwiththegrossbodyandheightenourconnectionwiththe
pranabody.Whathappenswhenweredirectourattentiontobreathisthatwe
immediatelyentertheworldofenergy,ofmovement,ofarisingandpassingaway,of
constantchange.Thereisnodistancetotraveltothisworld.Wearerightthere.The
techniqueofridingthewavebothevokesthislevelofexperienceandhelpsustobe
withitmoreandmorefully.
Sincethebreathistheswitchthatintegratestheemotionalbody/pranabodywiththe
physicalbody,consciousbreathingopenspartsofthebodythatmayhavelongbeen
shutofffromthelifeforce.Andwhenthewaveofbreathmovesintotheseexiled
areas,theresultscansometimesbeinstantlydramatic.
2.Relax.Musculartensioninthebodycaninhibittheflowofenergy,sensation,and
feeling,keepingareasofthebodydefendedagainstthewaveofenergy.While
intentionallyridingthewave,itisusuallybesttofindacomfortableposturethat
allowsfull,deepbreathingandanopenchestandheart,apostureintowhichthe
bodycanrelax,andkeeprelaxing.
Themosteffectiveareatobeginrelaxingisusuallythebelly.Ihavefoundithelpful
torepeatthemantra:"Softbelly."It'ssosimple.Inthemidstofthewavesoflife,
justsoftenthebelly.Thisisabrilliantdevice,becausewhenwethink,"softbelly,"we
immediatelysoftenourbreathingandtakedeep,diaphragmaticbreaths.This
automaticallyshiftsourentireenergyexperience,cuttingthroughobsession.It
groundsus.Wecanfeelenergyflowingallthewaydowntothelowerpartofthe
body,toourfeetandlegs.Suddenly,whatappeartobedenseandsolidthoughtsand
feelingsbecomepermeabletothewaveofenergy.They'rebrokenup.Theybecome
transparent.Theymove.Wefeelaliveagain.
Fullyogicbreathingwillhelpthemusclesrelaxandwillautomaticallycutthroughany
"fightorflight"response.Areasofthebodythatcontinuetoholdtensionand
constriction,andunconsciousvisceralattemptstochokebackintensesensationand
feelingswillbecomeobvious.Wecanmoveourawarenessdirectlytheretoexplore
andtoconsciouslyrelaxasmuchaspossible.
Asthewaveofbreathandenergyintensifies,wewillsurelywanttogetoff,andwe
mayrepeatedly"tenseup"inordertodefendagainstit.Wemustrememberthatthe
tensionofthefalseselfischronicandunconsciousandthatitconstantlyworks
againstthespontaneousenergyofprana.Wemust,therefore,consciouslyremember
torelaxandkeeprelaxinginordertostaywiththewave.
3.Feel."Feeling"inthistechniqueisanactivestate.Itdoesnotmeanjust"having
feelings"itmeansmovingactivelytowardthesensations,theenergy,theemotions,
andintothem.We"breatheintothem"asifwecouldsendbreathrightintotheir
epicenter.Wedeveloptheacuityofourawarenesssowecanbegintofeelthewhole
rangeofsensationstheircolor,theirtexture,theirintensity,theirmood.
Activelyfeelingmeansturningourattentionminutelytowardourmomentbymoment
experiencedroppingwhatwethinkaboutwhatishappening,ourevaluationsand

judgmentsaboutit,andbecomingfullyabsorbedatthelevelofsensation,feeling,
andenergy.Learningtofocusdeeplyonsensationinthiswaydevelopsourcapacity
tobewithsensationandfeeling.Wedevelopcuriositysothatwe'reinterestedinthe
exacttopographyofthefeeling."Whereinthebodyisthefeelingmostintense?What
istheexacttextureofthesensation?Aretherepatternsofmovement?"
Thiskindofproactivefeelingrevealsoneofthecentrallawsoftheenergybody:
energyfollowsawareness.Aswebringawarenesstoexiledaspectsofourenergy
body,weopenthesepreviouslyunconsciousareastotheflowofprana.
Consciousnessandenergyaredeeplylinked.Moreconsciousnessresultsinmore
waveoflife.
4.Watch.Therenowcanbeaprofoundandnaturalshifttowitnessconsciousness,to
thezoneofneutrality,wherewe'renotchoosingfororagainstanykindof
experience,butjustbeingwithexperienceexactlyasitis.Aswebecomeabsorbedin
thewitness,we'refreebothtoparticipateinandtostandapartfromourexperience.
Wenolongerfightwithwhatis.Aswedropintowitnessconsciousness,wemay
experiencesomeintuitionarisingfromdeepwithinourcellsaknowingthatcannotbe
experiencedthroughthemindalone."Watching"isaspecialplacewecanstandvis
avisourexperience,wherewejust"letlifebe"thewayitis.Inthezoneofthe
witness,ourattentionisfocusedon"howisit?"ratherthan"whyisit?"or"doIlike
it?"
Itisimportanttorememberthatthe"watcher"orobserverisalsothecoachofthe
entireexperience,thepartofusthatremainsunidentifiedwiththe"problem"and
remainsabletocoachustostayonthewaveofenergy.Itistheabidingvoice
constantlyrepeatingthemantra"breathe,relax,feel,watch,allow."Itisthestill
pointatthecenterofthestormofenergy,anditistheseatofourtrustinginthe
wisdomofenergy.
5.Allow.Whenwedon'ttrytocontrolourenergyexperience,we'refreetosurrender
tothewaveofsensation,offeeling,andofenergy.Intheseremarkablemomentsof
freedom,wecanletlifeasitistouchusbecauseatourcoreweknowthat
"everythingisalreadyOK."Weknowthattheenergymovinginthepranabodyis
intelligent.Weknowthatitismovinginjusttherightwayforhealingandfull
integrationtohappen.Werelinquishourresistance.Weletthewhole,naturalprocess
happentous.Somehow,wetrustthatallweneedtodoissupporttheprocessin
thesesimpleways,anditmovesitselftofullintegration.Thekeytothefifthstepis
this:Wedon'thavetomakethewaveoflifehappen.Wecanjustletithappen.Aswe
learnthiskindoftrustintheprocess,ourcapacitytoridethewavesoflifeincreases
dramatically.
Anessentialaspectofthefifthstepisthis:Wemustallowtheprocesstohappen
withoutnecessarilyunderstandingit.Insightmaycomelater,butitwillcomealways
simplyasabyproductofbeingpresentforexperience.Inthisfinalstepisaquality
ofsurrender,of"fallingintothegap"wherelifecanchangeus.Therecanbean
exhilaratingsenseoffreedomwhenthishappens,adeeplettinggoofour"grip"on
life.Thiskindofsurrenderrequiresawillingnesstobechanged.Itinvolves,too,a
willingnesstotrustlife,tokeepthefocusofourawarenessonenergyinmotion
insteadofontryingtounderstandwhatishappening.Pranaisintelligent,afterall.
Thissimpletechniqueof"ridingthewave"canbecomeforusakindofbridgethatwe
canuseatanymomenttocrossoverfromisolationandseparationtorelationship
withthephenomenalworldtheworldofthesenses,ofnature,oftheheartandthe
body.Itcanbecomeoneoftheboatsthatwerowaswetraversethewildinnerriver
offeelingsandlife.
Yoga:ListeningtotheBody
StephenCope

RecentsurveysrevealthatmorethaneightmillionAmericanscurrentlydoyogaona
regularbasisinYMCAs,healthclubs,privatestudios,seniorcenters,livingroom
floorsandretreatcentersaroundthecountry.TheMiamiDolphinsandtheChicago
Bullsaredoingit.TheCanadianMountedPolicearedoingit.Sting,Madonna,Kareem
AbdhulJihbar,RaquelWelch,WoodyHarrelson,JaneFonda,andAliMcGrawaredoing
it.Withalmostalarmingrapidity,practiceswhosesecretshavebeenhandeddownfor
thousandsofyearsexclusivelythroughthetraditionof"whisperedwisdom,"from
adepttostudent,havelandedonMainStreetUSA.
Therearemanyobviousreasonsforthisrapprochement.Yogaisprobablytheworld's
mostperfectformofexercise.Itcultivatescardiovascularhealth,andmusculo
skeletalstrengthandflexibilitywithoutthepainfulanddamagingsideeffectsofhigh
impactaerobics.Ittunesupeveryorgansystemrespiratory,digestive,reproductive,
endocrine,lymphatic,andnervous.Itcultivatesthebody'scapacitytorelaxand
dramaticallyreducesthenegativeeffectsofstress.
Withregularyogapractice,webreathebetter.Wesleepbetter.Wedigestourfood
better.Wefeelbetter.Wemayevenbegintorecoverfromchronicillness.
And,formanyAmericans,thebestpartisthatnoneoftheseamazingoutcomes
requireyearsoftrainingandapprenticeship.Thebenefitsofpracticeareimmediate.
Weare,byandlarge,apracticalpeople.Andyogaisapracticalendeavor.
Yettheimmediatephysicalbenefitsofyogareportedinmedicaljournalsandthe
mainstreampressmaybeonlythetipoftheiceberg.Regularyogapractitioners
describeawholehostofsubtletransformationsintheirliveschangesthatseemmore
mysterious,moredifficulttoquantify,andeventodescribe.Manyexperience
momentsofsharplyincreasedmentalfocusandclarityandheightenedperceptual
andintuitivepowers.Somedescribeadramaticincreaseinenergyandstamina,
emotionalevenness,andequanimity.Othersreportaheightenedfeelingof
connectiontoaninnerSelf,ecstaticstatesofbliss,andprofoundwellbeing.And
therearenotinfrequentstoriesoftrulymiraculoushealingsphysical,emotional,
spiritual.
Whataccountsforthesemoreineffablefruitsofyogapractice?Aretheycentralto
thepractice,orperipheral?
Asitturnsout,thesystematicenhancementofperceptualandintuitivepowersisone
oftheprimarygoalsofclassicalyogapractice.Yogisdiscoveredthousandsofyears
agothatthereisaparticularwayofmovingcharacteristicofclassicalposture
practicethatheightensourmind'scapacitytodrawareasofthebody'sunconscious
intoconsciousnessallowingusaccesstoaspectsofourintelligencewhicharethought
ofintheWestas"supernormal."Indeed,intheclassicalsense,yogaposturesarenot
somuchaboutexerciseastheyareaboutreeducatingthemindanddevelopingthe
fullpotentialoftheremarkableperceptualpowerswhichyogisunderstandto
penetratetheentirebody.
Atthebeginningofmostyogaclasses,Ihavestudentssimplystandforamoment,
withtheireyesclosed,andaskthemtointentionallyscantheirbodywiththeir
awareness:solesofthefeet,ankles,knees,hips,belly,chest,arms,neck,head,
face,crown.Almosteveryonewhodoesthisfinds,usuallytotheirastonishment,that
thereareareasoftheirbodiesthatarecompletely"numb"thatexistcompletely
outsidetheirconsciousawareness.Studentsoftenhavetheunsettlingsensethat
somehowthe"circuitshavenotbeenhookedup"tooneoranotherpartofthebody.
"WhenIclosemyeyes,Ijustcan'tevenseemtofindanysensationintheareaofmy
hips,"saysonestudent.Indeed,thecircuitryisweak.Intheprocessofrelegating
theseareasofthebodytotheunconscious,theneuropathwaysintosensationhave
beenunderused.Theneuropathwaysarethereaspotential,butthebrain'sskillin
intentionallyusingthemhasbeenunderdeveloped.

Thegoodnewsisthatourrestrictionofawarenessislearnedbehavior.Itcanbe
unlearned.Yogishaveproventhatwecanlearnhowtoredirectourawarenessinto
everyaspectofourphysicallifenotjustthemusculatureandthesurfaceofthebody,
buttheviscera,andevendeeperstructuresofthebodyaswell.Andthebestnewsis
thatintheprocessof"hookingupthecircuitry"again,wewillnaturallybeginto
rememberwhatthebodyhasforgotten.Theintentionalpracticeofyogapostureshas
theeffectof"remembering"usreunitinguswiththelostpartsofourself,our
experience,ourhistory,anditsresultinginsights.
Thescienceofphysiologyhascoinedtheterm"proprioception"fortheactof
receivingandinterpretingmessagesfromourownbodies.Proprioceptionliterally
means"ourownreception"andthroughitweareabletofeelthewarmthinourhands
aswesitquietly,orthebeatingofourhearts,ortheburninginagroupofmuscles
thatarechronicallyinspasm.Throughproprioceptionweareabletodiscriminate
subtleshadesoffeelingandsensationtobothperceiveandinterpretstimulifromthe
fieldofourownvisceralreality.Itisthecapacityforproprioception,indeed,that
helpsustofeelrealandgroundedontheearth.Whenpeoplelosetheirproprioceptive
capacitiesthroughdiseasesoftheneuromuscularsystems,theyoftendescribea
feelingthatthey'velostsomethingcoretotheirhumanbeingness.
Thepracticeofyogaposturesisintentionallydesignedtodevelopourproprioceptive
capacitiestoalevelofsupernormalrefinement.Thereisnomagicinthis.Itissimply
amatteroftrainingattention.Awellbalancedseriesofpostureswillsystematically
openupeveryareaofthebodyforexploration,givingusamethodicalwayof
scanningthebody,andtrainingourattentiontopenetrateeveryaspectofit.
Whenwebeginpracticingpostures,wemaynoticethatourattunementtosensations
evenonthesurfaceofthebodyisquitegross.Butaswetakedifferentareasofthe
bodyasobjectsofourconcentration,ourcapacitytofocusattentiongrows.We
rediscoverthoseneuropathwaysintosensationonlythroughtrialanderror,butas
wediscoverthemwecaneventuallylearnhowtousethemandbringthemunderour
consciouscontrol.Finally,ourperceptionbecomessorefinedthatwebeginto
penetratethesurfaceofthebody,thearmorofthemusculature,andatlaterstages
ofthepracticethesubtlestfunctioningoftheinternalorgans.
Aswetrainourattentioninthisway,we'llalsobegintonoticeourpostures
throughouttheday,notjustontheyogamat.Oh,I'mstandinghere,andIcanfeel
myshouldershunchingforward,pullingmein.WhatamIfeeling?WhatamIreacting
to?Somethingold?Somethinginthemoment?
Becauseyogaasanasarenotsomuchaboutexerciseastheyareaboutlearningand
unlearning,itisnotthemovementitselfbutthequalityofattentionwebringtothe
movementthatmakesposturesqualifyasyoga.Postureshave,inthemselves,no
magicpower.Eventhemostseemingly"advanced"practice,ifdrivenbyfear,
aggression,perfectionism,andunconsciousness,willnotautomaticallycreate
transformation.Posturessimplyprovideamethodicalwayoftrainingattentionso
movementsandareaspreviouslyrelegatedtothe"basement"oftheprimitivebrain
canbebroughtintoconsciousness.
Westernsciencehasnowdiscoveredhowthisworks.Whenmusclesaremoved
slowlyandconsciously,themovementisbroughtunderthecontrolofthemost
refinedaspectofthebrain,theneocortex.Deliberatemovement,donewith
heightenedstatesofattentiontosensation,allowsadeeprelearningtohappen.Yoga
actuallybeginstochangethebodybyreeducatingthebrain.
Asthisreeducationproceeds,proprioceptionbecomesevenmorehighlyrefinedand
awarenessbeginstopenetratenotjustthemusculature,buttheorgans,glands,the
fluids,andeventhebones.ThisseemsoddandunlikelytousWesterners.Our
Westernmedicalmodelissuffusedwithafascinating"split"inawarenessbetween

theoutsideofthebodyandtheinside.Theoutsideofthebodytheskin,themuscles
isseenasavailabletoawarenessandvolition.Theinsideofthebody,however,is
seenasautomatic,reflexive,dark,unfathomableandprimitiveeven,forsome,
unclean.Notonlyisitrepulsiveandirrational,butitisoutsideourvolition,andhence
outsideourresponsibility,aswell.Thisattitudeallowsustomaintainasplitthe
"outside"asconscious,the"inside"asunconscious.Theresultisthatwecanbanish
feelingswedon'twanttofacetotheinsideofthebodywheretheymanifestas
diseaseormalaiseofmanykinds.Thenweareapttodisavowresponsibilityforthem,
seeingthemasalieninvaders.
WhenWesternscientistsbegantostudythefeatsofyogis,theywere,foratime,
obsessedwithchartinganddescribingthesupernormalfeatsofinternalbodily
control,controlofsocalled"involuntaryprocesses."Inafamousexperimentatthe
MenningerClinic,forexample,itwasdocumentedthatSwamiRamawasabletoslow
hisheartalmosttoastopforsignificantperiodsoftimeandtobringitunder
consciouscontrol.Thesekindsof"feats"areadirectassaultonourworldview.Yet
yogishaveshownformillenniathatourblindnesstotheinsidesofthebodyisjust
anotheroneofwhatDeepakChopracallsour"prematurecognitivecommitments."
Awarenesscannaturallypenetrateeventhesocalledinvoluntaryorgansthe
digestivetract,theheart,thelungsraisingtheirfunctioningintothecontrolofthe
highercentersofthebrainandmakingthemconsciousandvoluntary.
Surprisingly,SwamiRama'sfeatsarenotthatfarbeyondthescopeofmany
Westerners'practice.Inmyexperience,I'vefounditisnotuncommonforusto
developalevelofawarenessofthebodywhichiscapableofpenetratingintoorgan
systems,andfromthereintowhatyogiscallthe"subtlebody"thepulsatingworldof
pureenergywhichisunderstoodtobethegroundofconsciousnessfromwhichthe
entirephenomenalworldarises.Aswepenetratethissubtleworldofenergyand
consciousness,wehaveanexperienceof"cominghome"toourtruenature,anda
senseofattunementtothedeepestsourcesofourwisdomandcompassion.
Inmyopinion,itisthisexperienceofhomecomingthatdrawsusbackagainand
againtothisremarkablepractice.AsauthorandyogiJonKabatZinnhassaid,
"whereverwego,thereweare,"andyetitismyexperiencethatformanyofus,
afterexposuretothepracticeofyoga,thereissimply,andattimesastonishingly,a
greatdealmoreofusthere.Moreconsciousness,moreenergy,moreawareness,
moreequanimity,morelifeinthebody,moreconnectionwiththemysteriesofthe
soul.Andthereisthatwonderful,hauntingvoiceoftheTrueSelfthatcallstous,that
keepsuscompanyaswestridedeeperanddeeperintotheworld,determined,as
poetMaryOliversays,"tosavetheonlylifewereallycansave."
StephenCopeisapsychotherapistwhowritesandteachesabouttherelationship
betweencontemporarypsychologyandtheEasterncontemplativetraditions.Hehas
degreesfromAmherstCollegeandBostonCollege,andcurrentlyisScholarin
ResidenceattheKripaluCenterforYogaandHealthinLenox,Massachusetts,the
largestresidentialyogacenterintheworld.Hisfirstbook,"YogaandtheQuestfor
theTrueSelf,"waspublishedinOctober1999.

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