Holi, Yoga & Acupuncture :)
Holi is the festival of Atman celebrating its many colorful forms. - Professor Ramchandra Gandhi
Today is Holi! Holi is the Hindu festival celebrated at the end of the winter season. People throw colors on each other to symbolize the colors that come with spring! There are a few mythological stories that are connected with the celebration including the burning of the demoness “Holika” (hence the name “Holi”) and one involving Kama (the god of love) who was reduced to ashes by Siva after disturbing his meditation and then restored by the Lord of the Yogis but only as a mental image to symbolize the transcendence of love beyond physical lust. My dear friend/mentor, the late Professor Gandhi, said that during Holi we "obliterate the idea that we are only one color"--it is a way for us to access the vastness of who we really in our essence...everyone and everything!
Even though the city can get crazy during Holi because along with the throwing of colors a lot of people get really intoxicated I decided to venture out. I began my Holi morning at my yoga center.
“An ounce of practice is worth tons of theory.” – Swami Sivananda
My weekend ritual involves spending time at this yoga center and going to acupuncture. At the entrance of my yoga center there is a quote I love: “An ounce of practice is worth tons of theory.” I thought about this quote in light of Holi and how important it is sometimes not to get too in our heads and just “experience” things. Coincidentally, today was the first time my teacher spoke at great length about mindfulness during our class. The physical practice of yoga is really how my spiritual journey began close to a decade ago and was my first real experience of “mindfulness practice.” Yoga quickly unites the mind and body through coordinating our breath with physical movements or focusing on our breath through pranayama. The purpose of yoga is "citta vritti nirodha" which essentially means quieting/stilling the mind. While I value formal sitting practice a great deal the inner alchemy that happens through yoga and acupuncture is very much a part of my life :)
