Dehas, the body

This week we move to a different layer of Self. Dehas is a Sanskrit word that means "that which is formed". It is commonly used to refer to the physical body. This layer hits closer to home for all of us —It is something we can easily relate to. We inherit many physical traits from our parents, as well as part of their demeanor. I was talking to my sister the other day about how much of my nephew's way of moving reminded me of his father. It is not exactly the same, of course, but it carries a similar air. This, I think, adds a subtle layer to our sense of self. 

There is also how we identify with the body and the ways this affects us. Christopher Wallis, a teacher that I follow, speaks about the different ways we identify with this layer of self. He says statements like "I am fit", " I am out of shape", "I am young", I am old", and so on are indicators of different degrees of identification with the body. This is not necessarily bad —the problem arises when we identify only with this layer and forget the others.

From a different point of view, we could approach or relate to this layer of self differently. One of the teachers from the tradition I follow often repeated this teaching:

"Honor yourself, respect yourself, meditate on your own Self, God dwells within you as you"

As we practice yoga on the mat, wouldn't it be an exciting endeavor to:  

Honor our body by aligning our highest values with our movements.
Respect our body by acknowledging its strengths as well as its shortcomings.
Meditate with the full conviction that there is something truly worthwhile to experience within this body.

I know it is a tall order, but as I remind myself whenever I feel overwhelmed by a task: I just have to start with one step.. and then the next"

I look forward to exploring this theme in class with you.

Breathe easy,

Blessings,

Jorge Nihāl