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Gregory Ormson

Writer, musician, yoga-loving motorcyclist.

Thoughts on completing a 200th session of Bikram yoga in Hawaii.

           June 8, 2014

      

       In
Heated Ardor

Mircea
Eliade in YOGA: Immortality and Freedom,
writes that the Indians, in the Rg-Veda, called the practice of using heat and
ardor in ascetic effort a tapas. He
also described how North American Medicine Men effectively used heat in Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstacy,
his authoritative tome published in 1951.
To
me, the tapas is found not in the
company of shamans or Vedic volumes, but in my flesh and sweat practice of
disciplined asana. I’ve wrestled this
fire 300-hours over the past 17 months. In doing so, I’ve perspired gallons of
sweat. No, seriously, I’ve perspired gallons of sweat.
I’ve
strengthened my will, endured physical distress and slowly leaned into ease and relinquishment. I’ve sharpened my focus, strengthened my spine,
refined my habits, softened my step and clarified my boundaries.
I’ve
noticed others too. How can you not notice others? I’ve honored my classmates’
struggle, and I feel privileged to witness their resolve. I respect them and
watch them build their hard-earned strength, flexibility and health.
I
bow to my teachers for their verve and dedication; I’ve learned their lessons,
and I thank them.
Tapas has taught me
to absorb my pain and come to balance, taught me to control my breath and pay
attention to everything. This
ardor… this heat… a fire cracking open my heart and spine. It’s a flame I’ve
embraced as it leads me to deeper awareness, growing surrender and focused
ardor.
I
stand as witness to metamorphosis and grow strong in the broken places.
Beyond
another full breath, I ask nothing more from this new friend. Yet I hope when
this asana is an old friend, I’ll
harbor the same sentiments, continue embracing its challenge and apprehend
depths heretofore unknown.
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