OPENING THE HEART WITH YOGA

by Sally Blodgett

The Tibetan Book of Yoga:

Ancient Buddhist Teachings on the Philosophy and Practice of Yoga

by Geshe Michael Roach

“You cannot enter the door of yoga without kindness and compassion for others.”

-Changkya, 1717-1786, Yoga Teacher to the Emperor of China and His Holiness, the Seventh Dalai Lama

The Tibetan Book of Yoga is for the yoga student whose yoga practice is linked to an inner life—or who yearns for that vital connection. Tibetan Heart Yoga, which belongs to the Gelupka tradition of the Dalai Lamas, does not view yoga as a stress-reliever, a way to get flexible, or even as an effective tool for clearing the mind—although it happily acknowledges these as beneficial effects. The sole purpose of Tibetan yogic practice is to open the heart.

The techniques for doing this—postures, conscious breathing, chanting, focused intention—are aptly set forth in this brief and well-constructed treatise and instruction manual. What I really enjoy in this book is the delightful and unique voice of its author Geshe Michael Roach. Roach writes with great tenderness and authority about the unique Buddhist philosophy that underlies Tibetan yogic practices. He explains clearly how the state of our mind and heart—what we’re thinking and feeling—actually affects our physical body, and then presents 10 easy-to-follow yoga exercises to open and harmonize our whole being without exerting force or strain.

Each exercise has three parts. A short summary of its historical roots and purpose is presented first, followed by detailed instructions, “How To Do The Exercise,” which includes the time it will take (maximum length is 5 minutes). The final section is a discussion entitled “How The Exercise Works On You.”

In an insightful excerpt from the exercise, “The Bow and Arrow of Joy,” which works on untying the heart and lower back ‘knots,’ Roach explains why people sometimes pull a muscle or feel worse after a yoga workout.

"Think of your inner channels like little garden hoses with knots in them. Suppose there’s no water coming out of a hose, because there’s a knot, and then you go and turn the faucet wide open. You could burst the hose. The same sort of thing could happen when you do some vigorous yoga, which sends more and more inner wind racing through the channels. If you haven’t made an equal effort to loosen up the knots in the channels, you can get some unexpected results, anywhere from a pulled muscle to feelings of irritability or competitiveness."

For those new or seasoned yogis who are focused solely on the physical discipline of yoga, I advise looking elsewhere. But, if you desire an approach that inspires, instructs and expands your understanding, this little gem may be for you.

Sally Blodgett is a free-lance writer and a student of yoga, mindfulness and meditation practices. Contact her at clicking here.