Concentrate

I recently read an article in which the author described being so completely immersed in books as a child that she had no awareness of the passage of time or activity around her. She then explained how this ability to focus her attention helped her practice yoga and meditation.


I am an avid reader and have been for years. I too lost myself in books as a child and young adult. Though as I grew, I was much more prone to distraction. When I began practicing yoga my mind was rarely steady on the class and its' intention. I didn't even know it. I was discussing my difficulty in keeping my focus in life and was asked how I kept my focus in class. That's when it hit me that I didn't. Savasana was always difficult. Even years later I find myself apt to wander in my attention if I am faced with a quieter pose.
The difference between being immersed in a book an being immersed in myself is the escapism factor. It's the same reason I watch the same shows over and over again. (*cough* Firefly) People in books go places I don't and meet people I don't and speak with people in a way that's free from awkwardness. I read sci-fi fantasy novels to escape the uncertainty and frustrations of life. I watch Firefly too often because I know what's going to happen. There's no question of whether or not the "right" thing is being done. I know how it turns out. The same can not be said for my life. While it continues to show improvement, there is uncertainty, doubt, awkwardness, anger, fear. I have heard it suggested (by myself and others) that your concentration can be increased by your increased fascination with your internal world. It sounds egotistical at first. Swami Rama in The Art of Joyful Living says to read the manuscript of your life as you would any other book. So, can I wrangle my love for reading to include a love for the story of my own life? It depends on how much emotional baggage I can drop.


Meditation is the practice of one pointed attention. We are rarely supported in one pointedness in the modern world. When you can text, listen to music and take a phone call from a device you can use while you drive, you're not required to stay on the one important task in that list. In our jobs we're encouraged to do as many things at once as possible so companies get their money's worth out of our salaries. Our education demands we take many classes at once and retain details of each.When I was young I started reading 5 books at once. I thought it would be interesting to switch up stories. My mother suggested I try one at a time. In college I realized one at a time was not an option. I remember accompanying my mom to a salon so she could get her hair done, listening to music while I read. My son listens to recordings of people playing video games while he plays games.


In yoga classes we are asked to keep our awareness on the current moment utilizing breath and body movement. As we master these aspects of ourselves we can gradually move into stillness and practice meditation. Meditation has two stages, the first of which is concentration. If you learn to concentrate, keeping all of your awareness focused on one thing, then you move to the next stage of meditation. There are many techniques of concentration. Two often used in yoga settings is mantra and visualization. Upon completing every asana class she teaches, my teacher leads her students in meditation practices. We are free to sit still because of the asana/pranayama we've practiced. While we sit, she uses words to guide our attention to specific areas; physical body parts, light visualization, or even the development of awareness of a sensation like gratitude or joy.


If you're unsure of the practice of meditation, or maybe have preconceptions as to what meditation is, take the time to find someone knowledgeable and approachable who can help you in the practice of concentration. Don't set yourself up for frustration by sitting down without physical movement and try to force thoughts out of your mind. You will only create tension in yourself and push yourself further from calm concentration.


This week in class, I ask that you concentrate to the best of your ability on every moment of class. Use the times that you wander to learn what pulls you away from the present. Take the time to notice throughout your week what kinds of thoughts distract you from your everyday. The more aware you become of your tendencies, the more often you'll be able to stay present.