Subtle Power

We have all experienced a conversation with someone in which just a slight change in body language suddenly changes the mood. Or been in a room that feels tense until someone starts to giggle and suddenly there is a collective relief felt by all. These small moments have always fascinated me. Generally, we recognize power as being big and loud, however, there is also great power in the subtle. Ayurveda and Yogic philosophy teach us that in addition to our physical body, we have a subtle body. As someone who leans toward the quieter/introverted side of the spectrum, I think I’ve always had an innate appreciation for the fact that there is a different kind of power in the subtle. When I learned that Ayurveda has identified an entire subtle body that is a vital part of the practice, it immediately became one of my favorite things about it. The subtle body consists of everything that makes up our identity that we cannot see or touch. This includes our thoughts, perceptions, and emotions. Our thoughts are very real to each of us, however, we cannot get a blood test or an X-ray to see where or what they are. Two people might witness the same incident but have two very different perceptions of what happened. While we might do our best to understand someone else's perception, we can't look at it objectively, the way we might look at a muscle or a bone. Perceptions simply don't exist outside of the mind. These intangible elements are a huge factor in the health of our physical body, as well as the life we create for ourselves. I think that most of us innately understand this to a point. If we are stressed about something and then get a stomach ache, most of us will accept this as a cause and effect. We understand that the stomach ache is simply a physical response to our stress. We also understand that a constant negative attitude generally doesn't bring us great things. Ayurveda tells us that the cause of much of our dis-ease (both physical disease, and emotional unease) is rooted in our subtle body, even when it becomes a little harder to connect the dots at first glance. By no means does Ayurveda diminish the importance of the physical body. Both bodies are intertwined and they affect each other. Healing and caring for the physical body is important. I hope that one day, as a society, we will realize that healing and caring for the subtle body is equally important. Our thoughts, perceptions, and emotions matter, and we do have the ability to shape them. Lao Tzu famously said: Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny. We care for our physical body by paying attention to our food intake, movement, sleep, etc. There are ways to care for our subtle body as well. Here are two ways to do just that, without needing any special equipment.

1. Meditation. Techniques abound and YouTube can instantly give you thousands of guided meditations. Any of them that gets you to do it, is the right one. If you’re like me and prefer a no-fuss system then simply sit up straight in a quiet place for a few minutes, close your eyes, and listen to yourself breathe. If you want a bit more bang for your buck, do it early in the morning before the sun comes up, but really anytime will do. Set a timer and start with 2 minutes. You will know when you are ready to add on. I’m not exaggerating when I say two minutes of meditation daily can change your life.

2. Watch your thought pattern throughout the day. Negative emotions such as stress, frustration, and anger can be useful when they are short-term and a catalyst to action. Hanging out in these states for a prolonged period starts to create real havoc on the physical body in a myriad of ways. I’m not arguing that these emotions are invalid. I'm saying that no matter how justified they are, you are still paying the price for them.

If you feel either your subtle body or your physical body could benefit from a little extra care this winter, see below for an opportunity to do just that. Happy Searching Everyone :) Nina

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Upcoming Events!

I am hosting a Yoga Retreat this winter

Feb 24-27, 2024

Just outside San Diego (La Mesa)

Accommodations in the beautiful home pictured below, with a private heated pool

Includes 3 nights accommodation, all meals & programming

Meals will be Ayurvedic-inspired and vegetarian

Just 4 spots remain open

$899 per person

Want to learn more? Email me at theoldsoulyogi@gmail.com for more details