1 00:00:15,436 --> 00:00:25,236 Speaker 1: Pushkin. I was in graduate school and a friend of 2 00:00:25,236 --> 00:00:27,796 Speaker 1: mine was like, oh my god, you should come to 3 00:00:27,916 --> 00:00:30,796 Speaker 1: yoga because I was really depressed. This is one of 4 00:00:30,836 --> 00:00:35,076 Speaker 1: my wellness idols. Jessamin Stanley. She had drunk the yoga 5 00:00:35,116 --> 00:00:36,916 Speaker 1: kool aid. She was like, Oh my god, it's going 6 00:00:36,956 --> 00:00:39,276 Speaker 1: to change your whole life. The idea of that sort 7 00:00:39,316 --> 00:00:41,716 Speaker 1: of big change did appeal to Jessamin, who at the 8 00:00:41,796 --> 00:00:44,716 Speaker 1: time was feeling a bit lost. I was like, I 9 00:00:44,756 --> 00:00:47,796 Speaker 1: don't know who I am, what is the purpose of 10 00:00:47,836 --> 00:00:51,116 Speaker 1: my life? What's going on? And she was like, oh 11 00:00:51,156 --> 00:00:53,476 Speaker 1: my god, you should come to yoga. You're gonna love it. 12 00:00:53,916 --> 00:00:56,916 Speaker 1: And I was like, I am not doing that. Jessamin 13 00:00:56,996 --> 00:00:59,276 Speaker 1: had tried yoga once before in high school and she 14 00:00:59,356 --> 00:01:02,476 Speaker 1: absolutely hated it. But her friend wasn't going to take 15 00:01:02,516 --> 00:01:04,756 Speaker 1: no for an answer and knew just how to make 16 00:01:04,796 --> 00:01:08,316 Speaker 1: the case. She appealed to Jessaman's appetite for a bargain, 17 00:01:08,796 --> 00:01:10,836 Speaker 1: and she got me caught up on a group on 18 00:01:10,956 --> 00:01:12,876 Speaker 1: though she was like, what's the worst they can happen? 19 00:01:12,996 --> 00:01:15,836 Speaker 1: You go one time you paid thirty dollars with this past, Like, 20 00:01:15,836 --> 00:01:19,356 Speaker 1: what's the worst that can happen? Jessamin reluctantly agreed at 21 00:01:19,356 --> 00:01:22,876 Speaker 1: first that yoga class wasn't the amazing, life changing experience 22 00:01:22,956 --> 00:01:27,396 Speaker 1: Jessamin was hoping for. So it's really hot here, it smells, 23 00:01:27,596 --> 00:01:31,156 Speaker 1: it kind of sucks. Actually, like everything about this is 24 00:01:31,196 --> 00:01:34,316 Speaker 1: really hard. Jessamin couldn't do the poses as well as 25 00:01:34,316 --> 00:01:37,356 Speaker 1: the other students around her. As a queer plus sized 26 00:01:37,396 --> 00:01:40,316 Speaker 1: black woman in a mostly skinny, white lady yoga class. 27 00:01:40,676 --> 00:01:44,116 Speaker 1: She felt uncomfortable in her body and painfully self conscious. 28 00:01:44,556 --> 00:01:47,996 Speaker 1: I remember we were practicing a posture called awkward pose 29 00:01:48,316 --> 00:01:50,756 Speaker 1: that is literally it's so aptly named because it is 30 00:01:50,796 --> 00:01:53,836 Speaker 1: extremely awkward. So I'm looking at myself in this mirror 31 00:01:54,036 --> 00:01:58,636 Speaker 1: and which is traumatizing on its own, because I literally 32 00:01:58,636 --> 00:02:00,516 Speaker 1: would go out of my way at that stage in 33 00:02:00,556 --> 00:02:03,196 Speaker 1: my life to avoid mirrors and looking at myself. And 34 00:02:03,196 --> 00:02:05,116 Speaker 1: I'm just thinking, like, why did you even think you 35 00:02:05,156 --> 00:02:07,756 Speaker 1: could come to this class? Like you obviously don't know 36 00:02:07,796 --> 00:02:10,476 Speaker 1: what you're doing, and everybody here knows it, and you 37 00:02:10,476 --> 00:02:13,596 Speaker 1: can't even do this basic thing. This is like maybe 38 00:02:13,636 --> 00:02:16,116 Speaker 1: the third or fourth posture in the class. I'm like, 39 00:02:16,476 --> 00:02:18,836 Speaker 1: there's no like, if you can't do this, then why 40 00:02:18,916 --> 00:02:22,516 Speaker 1: even show up? And I was just talking cash shit 41 00:02:22,676 --> 00:02:25,876 Speaker 1: to myself, and I had this moment where I was like, 42 00:02:26,756 --> 00:02:31,116 Speaker 1: you know, you could just try. Maybe you just try, Like, yes, 43 00:02:31,436 --> 00:02:34,556 Speaker 1: maybe you're gonna fall down. Maybe everyone in the room 44 00:02:34,716 --> 00:02:36,596 Speaker 1: is going to know that you don't know what you're doing. 45 00:02:36,836 --> 00:02:38,916 Speaker 1: Maybe the teacher's gonna know that you don't know what 46 00:02:38,956 --> 00:02:42,996 Speaker 1: you're doing. And maybe that's just gotta be okay, Because 47 00:02:43,556 --> 00:02:46,036 Speaker 1: did you spend this money to come to this class 48 00:02:46,116 --> 00:02:48,796 Speaker 1: to just stand here and talk shit about yourself because 49 00:02:48,836 --> 00:02:51,196 Speaker 1: you could have done that at home. Jessamin decided to 50 00:02:51,236 --> 00:02:54,196 Speaker 1: make good on her thirty dollar investment. She committed to 51 00:02:54,196 --> 00:02:57,556 Speaker 1: halting her usual self criticism, if only for the length 52 00:02:57,556 --> 00:03:00,796 Speaker 1: of that one class. She started leaning into all the 53 00:03:00,876 --> 00:03:05,396 Speaker 1: new postures and movements, and then something incredible happened. She 54 00:03:05,476 --> 00:03:08,796 Speaker 1: actually started to enjoy yoga. It was the first time 55 00:03:09,156 --> 00:03:11,036 Speaker 1: Esseman was able to get out of her head and 56 00:03:11,116 --> 00:03:13,676 Speaker 1: as long as she could remember. So it was this 57 00:03:13,796 --> 00:03:17,956 Speaker 1: insane moment of like actually having to reckon with something 58 00:03:17,996 --> 00:03:21,876 Speaker 1: that I had just decided about myself, and that moment 59 00:03:22,036 --> 00:03:25,756 Speaker 1: that breaking point to this day. Ultimately, that is why 60 00:03:25,796 --> 00:03:29,116 Speaker 1: I continue to practice yoga, because it really is it's 61 00:03:29,156 --> 00:03:31,956 Speaker 1: a cracking open of the spirit. It's like you're looking 62 00:03:31,956 --> 00:03:35,516 Speaker 1: in a foggy bathroom mirror, a mirror that you fogged up, 63 00:03:35,556 --> 00:03:39,356 Speaker 1: and like just swiping across it and seeing your actual 64 00:03:39,396 --> 00:03:43,076 Speaker 1: reflection back at you. And it was so profound for 65 00:03:43,156 --> 00:03:45,996 Speaker 1: me in a way that I certainly didn't walk into 66 00:03:46,076 --> 00:03:49,436 Speaker 1: the class thinking I was going to experience. Decades later, 67 00:03:49,596 --> 00:03:52,196 Speaker 1: Jessaman has gone from an awkward novice to becoming a 68 00:03:52,236 --> 00:03:55,156 Speaker 1: famous yoga professional. She's now one of the most sought 69 00:03:55,196 --> 00:03:58,956 Speaker 1: after yoga and wellness instructors in the world. Jessaman's done 70 00:03:58,996 --> 00:04:02,716 Speaker 1: ad campaigns for places like Gatorade, Adidas, and Amazon. She's 71 00:04:02,756 --> 00:04:06,316 Speaker 1: the co founder of The Underbelly, an international yoga community 72 00:04:06,396 --> 00:04:09,276 Speaker 1: that celebrates bringing yoga and movement to people of all 73 00:04:09,316 --> 00:04:14,356 Speaker 1: body types and identities. But initially that experience, I really 74 00:04:15,156 --> 00:04:18,756 Speaker 1: only understood it on a physical level, an example being 75 00:04:18,836 --> 00:04:20,996 Speaker 1: like I'm just going to work on this pose, like 76 00:04:21,076 --> 00:04:25,036 Speaker 1: I'm going to work on camel pose or downward facing 77 00:04:25,116 --> 00:04:29,956 Speaker 1: dog like. I got really into headstanding and understanding the 78 00:04:30,036 --> 00:04:34,396 Speaker 1: mechanics of that, and through that practice of focusing on 79 00:04:34,556 --> 00:04:40,956 Speaker 1: different postures, I did start to understand that there are 80 00:04:40,996 --> 00:04:46,236 Speaker 1: a lot of themes that come up when you are 81 00:04:46,276 --> 00:04:56,356 Speaker 1: practicing yoga so like grounding stability, strength, flexibility, and understanding 82 00:04:56,396 --> 00:05:03,316 Speaker 1: those concepts beyond what they were offering me physically, So like, 83 00:05:03,516 --> 00:05:08,396 Speaker 1: if I am in a posture that is offering flexibility 84 00:05:08,436 --> 00:05:11,356 Speaker 1: in my physical whole body, what other parts of my 85 00:05:11,476 --> 00:05:15,236 Speaker 1: life can I be more flexible in. Jessamin was training 86 00:05:15,276 --> 00:05:18,156 Speaker 1: extensively in the physical side of her practice, but she 87 00:05:18,196 --> 00:05:21,556 Speaker 1: hadn't yet looked at the historic or spiritual roots of yoga. 88 00:05:21,836 --> 00:05:24,356 Speaker 1: Was her practice really supposed to be just about the poses, 89 00:05:24,396 --> 00:05:26,996 Speaker 1: she wondered, or did the founders of yoga intend for 90 00:05:27,036 --> 00:05:30,636 Speaker 1: it to be deeper. Jessamin was fascinated by all these questions, 91 00:05:30,956 --> 00:05:33,396 Speaker 1: but she also worried that the answers might not be 92 00:05:33,436 --> 00:05:36,796 Speaker 1: for people like her. I am black, I am American, 93 00:05:37,076 --> 00:05:40,076 Speaker 1: I am not South Asian. I do not have a 94 00:05:40,116 --> 00:05:44,756 Speaker 1: cultural relationship with yoga. And I was like, I'm pretty 95 00:05:44,796 --> 00:05:48,876 Speaker 1: sure this is all appropriation and it's probably not cool 96 00:05:48,956 --> 00:05:51,836 Speaker 1: for me to be doing this at all. But at 97 00:05:51,836 --> 00:05:54,516 Speaker 1: a minimum, I'm just going to stick with the physical stuff, 98 00:05:54,596 --> 00:05:56,356 Speaker 1: and then I won't. I'm not even going to dig 99 00:05:56,396 --> 00:05:59,116 Speaker 1: into anything else. But as Jessamin thought more about the 100 00:05:59,236 --> 00:06:01,996 Speaker 1: varied benefits that she and her students got from yoga. 101 00:06:02,076 --> 00:06:04,196 Speaker 1: She began to realize that the physical side of this 102 00:06:04,236 --> 00:06:07,076 Speaker 1: ancient tradition was just the tip of the iceberg. As 103 00:06:07,076 --> 00:06:10,196 Speaker 1: she explains in her most recent book, Yoga, My Yoga 104 00:06:10,236 --> 00:06:12,836 Speaker 1: of Self Acceptance, she came to learn that it's less 105 00:06:12,836 --> 00:06:15,556 Speaker 1: about fitness and more about dealing with your mental and 106 00:06:15,596 --> 00:06:19,996 Speaker 1: emotional baggage. So much of what was making me unhappy 107 00:06:20,036 --> 00:06:23,236 Speaker 1: and unsatisfied in my life was that I'd created all 108 00:06:23,316 --> 00:06:26,076 Speaker 1: of these boundaries for myself, and I made all these 109 00:06:26,156 --> 00:06:28,636 Speaker 1: decisions about the type of person that I am and 110 00:06:28,676 --> 00:06:32,116 Speaker 1: about what I'm capable of handling, and I never allowed 111 00:06:32,196 --> 00:06:36,276 Speaker 1: myself to step outside of those boundaries. Yoga requires that 112 00:06:36,356 --> 00:06:39,716 Speaker 1: you step outside of your boundaries, and it's put me 113 00:06:39,756 --> 00:06:42,476 Speaker 1: in these situations where I actually had to look at 114 00:06:42,516 --> 00:06:44,756 Speaker 1: the way that I talked to myself and look at 115 00:06:44,796 --> 00:06:48,516 Speaker 1: the way that I process information and be like, you 116 00:06:48,596 --> 00:06:51,156 Speaker 1: know what, I know. I decided that I'm not going 117 00:06:51,196 --> 00:06:52,956 Speaker 1: to be able to do this, but maybe I'm just 118 00:06:53,036 --> 00:06:55,516 Speaker 1: going to try. And part of that commitment to moving 119 00:06:55,556 --> 00:06:58,476 Speaker 1: past her boundaries involved taking a careful look at the 120 00:06:58,516 --> 00:07:02,516 Speaker 1: cultural origins of yoga. Jessamine began reading about the history 121 00:07:02,516 --> 00:07:05,436 Speaker 1: of her practice, and in doing so, returned to an 122 00:07:05,476 --> 00:07:08,396 Speaker 1: important spiritual work that she'd first heard about and her 123 00:07:08,476 --> 00:07:11,556 Speaker 1: yoga teacher training a book that's often thought of as 124 00:07:11,596 --> 00:07:15,316 Speaker 1: the earliest textbook of yoga. It's called The Yoga Suits. 125 00:07:15,756 --> 00:07:20,756 Speaker 1: Such means thread, so it's literally like threads that tie 126 00:07:20,836 --> 00:07:25,756 Speaker 1: us together. These sutras have been passed down for thousands 127 00:07:25,836 --> 00:07:30,756 Speaker 1: of years, and they've been translated an untold number of times, 128 00:07:30,796 --> 00:07:35,516 Speaker 1: and they really are just words that were captured by 129 00:07:35,636 --> 00:07:40,796 Speaker 1: the students of a teacher. Parts and jolly, and these 130 00:07:40,836 --> 00:07:46,476 Speaker 1: words were just guiding thoughts for life. Potentially was the 131 00:07:46,516 --> 00:07:49,876 Speaker 1: wise Sanskrit stage who first outlined what's known as the 132 00:07:49,876 --> 00:07:52,636 Speaker 1: eight limbed Path. The eight limbed path was a way 133 00:07:52,716 --> 00:07:55,276 Speaker 1: for students not just to achieve a fitter body, as 134 00:07:55,276 --> 00:07:57,276 Speaker 1: we often think of yoga today, but to gain a 135 00:07:57,276 --> 00:08:01,156 Speaker 1: fitter mind and spirit. Potentially argued that when followed correctly, 136 00:08:01,276 --> 00:08:03,196 Speaker 1: the eight limbed path is a way for us all 137 00:08:03,276 --> 00:08:06,876 Speaker 1: to become free of mental suffering. It's really just like 138 00:08:07,516 --> 00:08:12,076 Speaker 1: so many other ancient texts, and it's been passed down 139 00:08:12,236 --> 00:08:17,836 Speaker 1: because the universality of the aphorisms. They can be applied 140 00:08:17,996 --> 00:08:21,956 Speaker 1: in every circumstance, no matter who you are or where 141 00:08:21,996 --> 00:08:24,636 Speaker 1: you are, and that's one of the reasons we'll be 142 00:08:24,636 --> 00:08:27,916 Speaker 1: turning to the yoga sutras in this episode. Today we'll 143 00:08:27,956 --> 00:08:30,236 Speaker 1: explore what the eight Lived path says about how to 144 00:08:30,276 --> 00:08:34,196 Speaker 1: live a happier, healthier life. Welcome back to Happiness Lessons 145 00:08:34,196 --> 00:08:36,916 Speaker 1: of the Ancients on the Happiness Lap with me, Doctor 146 00:08:36,996 --> 00:08:44,396 Speaker 1: Laurie Santos. Certainly, yoga has become in the mainstream almost 147 00:08:44,556 --> 00:08:48,636 Speaker 1: entirely associated with exercise. What poses are you doing? The 148 00:08:48,676 --> 00:08:52,556 Speaker 1: difficulty of the practice is engaged by the difficulty of 149 00:08:52,596 --> 00:08:57,276 Speaker 1: the postures, like how acrobatic is your practice becomes the metric, 150 00:08:57,676 --> 00:08:59,916 Speaker 1: so that when people go to a yoga class, it's 151 00:08:59,916 --> 00:09:02,676 Speaker 1: always about like what are the physical benefits going to be? 152 00:09:02,876 --> 00:09:07,156 Speaker 1: And that even when you talk about like meditation or breathwork, 153 00:09:07,396 --> 00:09:11,596 Speaker 1: it's not necessarily seen as a necessary component of a 154 00:09:11,676 --> 00:09:17,436 Speaker 1: yoga practice. And ultimately though, the physical experience of yoga 155 00:09:17,756 --> 00:09:21,356 Speaker 1: is really a very minor part of the experience. As 156 00:09:21,436 --> 00:09:23,876 Speaker 1: Jessamin learned more about the history of yoga and the 157 00:09:23,956 --> 00:09:28,036 Speaker 1: yoga sutras specifically, she quickly realized that yoga poses, or 158 00:09:28,076 --> 00:09:30,916 Speaker 1: asina's as they're called in Sanskrit, are just a tiny 159 00:09:30,956 --> 00:09:33,436 Speaker 1: part only one branch of the eight limb path that 160 00:09:33,516 --> 00:09:37,596 Speaker 1: Potentially originally outlined. In fact, Asina's didn't even make it 161 00:09:37,596 --> 00:09:41,036 Speaker 1: into the first limb that Potentially preached about. His classic 162 00:09:41,076 --> 00:09:43,836 Speaker 1: text started not with Asina's but with what are known 163 00:09:43,916 --> 00:09:47,636 Speaker 1: as the yamas or restraints. Yama's especially, I think, because 164 00:09:47,636 --> 00:09:50,556 Speaker 1: they go first. It's the suture that I think people 165 00:09:50,636 --> 00:09:53,876 Speaker 1: are most familiar with and the ones that have the 166 00:09:53,996 --> 00:09:59,436 Speaker 1: most intense translations in our society. The yamas remind us 167 00:09:59,436 --> 00:10:03,196 Speaker 1: about the responsibility we have to other people. In doing so, 168 00:10:03,356 --> 00:10:05,516 Speaker 1: the yamas fit well with one of the most well 169 00:10:05,596 --> 00:10:09,236 Speaker 1: documented effects in the entire field of happiness science that 170 00:10:09,276 --> 00:10:12,196 Speaker 1: becoming more other oriented is a quick way to improve 171 00:10:12,236 --> 00:10:15,676 Speaker 1: our well being. Study after study shows that focusing on 172 00:10:15,756 --> 00:10:19,476 Speaker 1: other people, either through volunteering or donating money, can make 173 00:10:19,556 --> 00:10:23,396 Speaker 1: us feel happier, and acting intentionally towards others is what 174 00:10:23,476 --> 00:10:25,836 Speaker 1: the first limb of the eight limb path is all about. 175 00:10:26,556 --> 00:10:29,836 Speaker 1: In fact, Potentially thought our responsibilities to others were so 176 00:10:29,876 --> 00:10:33,716 Speaker 1: important that he divided the yamas into five tinier principles, 177 00:10:33,756 --> 00:10:36,956 Speaker 1: as he called them, and the first and most famous 178 00:10:37,036 --> 00:10:40,716 Speaker 1: of these principles is what's known as ahimsa, which is 179 00:10:40,836 --> 00:10:46,076 Speaker 1: this idea of non violence, and often Ahimsa is translated 180 00:10:46,276 --> 00:10:52,036 Speaker 1: as a call to action for vegetarianism or veganism, because 181 00:10:52,956 --> 00:10:57,476 Speaker 1: the best way to be non violent in terms of 182 00:10:58,076 --> 00:11:04,116 Speaker 1: not harming other creatures is to literally not consume other creatures. 183 00:11:04,596 --> 00:11:07,796 Speaker 1: But that's just one translation of Ahimsa, and that's just 184 00:11:07,956 --> 00:11:13,036 Speaker 1: one translation for some people. Non violence, to me has 185 00:11:13,236 --> 00:11:16,996 Speaker 1: always come up more in the language that we used 186 00:11:17,036 --> 00:11:20,316 Speaker 1: to talk not just about other people, but about ourselves, 187 00:11:20,396 --> 00:11:24,676 Speaker 1: because if you are using violent language to talk about yourself, 188 00:11:24,796 --> 00:11:27,956 Speaker 1: that is coming into the way that you communicate about 189 00:11:27,996 --> 00:11:30,636 Speaker 1: other people as well, which is kind of ironic, because 190 00:11:30,636 --> 00:11:32,876 Speaker 1: I think the whole idea of a himself is not 191 00:11:33,156 --> 00:11:36,596 Speaker 1: to engage in violence, and in some ways, critiquing people, 192 00:11:36,676 --> 00:11:40,236 Speaker 1: especially critiquing people's bodies, you know, might be really a 193 00:11:40,356 --> 00:11:43,636 Speaker 1: violation of the very principle exactly. And another one that 194 00:11:44,196 --> 00:11:46,916 Speaker 1: jumps up for me is Bramacharia, which is this idea 195 00:11:46,956 --> 00:11:50,116 Speaker 1: of chastity. And like I remember in my own teacher 196 00:11:50,156 --> 00:11:53,396 Speaker 1: training it being said like, oh, well, we don't really 197 00:11:53,436 --> 00:11:56,156 Speaker 1: think about Bramacharia that much, like it's not that big 198 00:11:56,156 --> 00:11:57,636 Speaker 1: of a deal. You don't need to worry about it 199 00:11:57,756 --> 00:12:03,276 Speaker 1: because bramacharia being translated as chastity and therefore meaning celibacy, 200 00:12:03,476 --> 00:12:06,836 Speaker 1: no sex, no sex. People are like, I'm not not 201 00:12:06,876 --> 00:12:09,716 Speaker 1: going to have sex what you're saying, And in my 202 00:12:09,756 --> 00:12:13,996 Speaker 1: own understanding of brahmacharia, I think that it's more about 203 00:12:14,156 --> 00:12:19,036 Speaker 1: owning your own spirit so that when you are engaged 204 00:12:19,156 --> 00:12:23,716 Speaker 1: in acts that are literally sharing your spirit with other 205 00:12:23,836 --> 00:12:26,796 Speaker 1: human beings, that you can at a minimum know what 206 00:12:26,836 --> 00:12:29,916 Speaker 1: you're getting into. And that's what sex is. It's offering 207 00:12:29,956 --> 00:12:34,116 Speaker 1: yourself to another human being, and sex it can get 208 00:12:34,156 --> 00:12:37,396 Speaker 1: you twisted in the game. It will get you confused, 209 00:12:37,556 --> 00:12:41,596 Speaker 1: and that is really all that Brahmacharia is. It's really 210 00:12:41,636 --> 00:12:44,316 Speaker 1: just asking a question. It's like, you know, what does 211 00:12:44,356 --> 00:12:50,236 Speaker 1: it mean to hold onto your essence? To preserve your spirit. 212 00:12:50,676 --> 00:12:54,236 Speaker 1: Jessamine has a similar interpretation of the other three Yamas principles. 213 00:12:54,796 --> 00:12:57,156 Speaker 1: They're there so our minds don't get twisted up and 214 00:12:57,196 --> 00:12:59,916 Speaker 1: so that we can preserve our spirit. These final free 215 00:12:59,916 --> 00:13:04,436 Speaker 1: principles include Satya or truthfulness, basically, don't lie to people 216 00:13:04,556 --> 00:13:06,756 Speaker 1: and commit to living in truth even when doing so 217 00:13:06,876 --> 00:13:10,836 Speaker 1: is painful. Then there's estey, which tells us not to 218 00:13:10,836 --> 00:13:14,116 Speaker 1: be covetous Astea is all about nipping that green eyed 219 00:13:14,156 --> 00:13:16,516 Speaker 1: monster of jealousy in the bud and to try to 220 00:13:16,556 --> 00:13:21,596 Speaker 1: avoid social comparison generally. And finally, there's a paragraha, which 221 00:13:21,636 --> 00:13:25,076 Speaker 1: is freedom from desire. A paragraha fits nicely with a 222 00:13:25,076 --> 00:13:27,836 Speaker 1: happiness strategy we talk about a lot on this podcast, 223 00:13:28,476 --> 00:13:31,596 Speaker 1: remembering that more stuff and more accolades are not going 224 00:13:31,636 --> 00:13:34,676 Speaker 1: to make us happy. A paragraha is all about trying 225 00:13:34,716 --> 00:13:37,516 Speaker 1: to notice times when we're feeling a little greedy. It's 226 00:13:37,516 --> 00:13:43,236 Speaker 1: really not like hard rules, it's opportunities to engage with 227 00:13:43,356 --> 00:13:48,076 Speaker 1: yourself on a more visceral pud For the next limb 228 00:13:48,076 --> 00:13:50,756 Speaker 1: of the eight limb path, the Niyamas is even more 229 00:13:50,796 --> 00:13:54,036 Speaker 1: focused on engaging internally, and that's because the five principles 230 00:13:54,076 --> 00:13:56,956 Speaker 1: of the Niyamas are focused on the responsibilities we have 231 00:13:57,116 --> 00:14:00,956 Speaker 1: not towards other people, but towards ourselves. Those principles include 232 00:14:01,156 --> 00:14:05,636 Speaker 1: sautcha keeping your body clean physically, mentally and emotionally, tap 233 00:14:05,756 --> 00:14:09,556 Speaker 1: Us a sense of austerity and self discipline. Svadiaya, a 234 00:14:09,596 --> 00:14:12,796 Speaker 1: commitment to studying yourself and looking within yourself for answers. 235 00:14:13,116 --> 00:14:17,396 Speaker 1: Isfara pranidana committing to finding a spiritual path, and my 236 00:14:17,436 --> 00:14:21,556 Speaker 1: favorite of the niyamas Santosa. Santosa is my favorite, not 237 00:14:21,596 --> 00:14:23,436 Speaker 1: because the word kind of sounds like it should be 238 00:14:23,476 --> 00:14:25,636 Speaker 1: the name of some cousin of mine, but because it's 239 00:14:25,636 --> 00:14:28,716 Speaker 1: the principle that's focused on finding contentment in the present 240 00:14:28,756 --> 00:14:32,076 Speaker 1: moment and doing so without ruminating about the past or 241 00:14:32,116 --> 00:14:35,036 Speaker 1: the future. You could spend your whole life just focusing 242 00:14:35,076 --> 00:14:38,796 Speaker 1: on the yamas, honestly, because they show up in everything, 243 00:14:38,836 --> 00:14:42,996 Speaker 1: and they can be interpreted so many different ways, whether 244 00:14:43,076 --> 00:14:48,756 Speaker 1: that's through the language that you use, through your personal 245 00:14:48,796 --> 00:14:53,716 Speaker 1: definition of chastity, through the things that you consume, how 246 00:14:53,756 --> 00:14:57,556 Speaker 1: you cleanse your body, but then it's also the way 247 00:14:57,596 --> 00:15:03,596 Speaker 1: that you engage with other human beings, not coveting what 248 00:15:03,716 --> 00:15:08,116 Speaker 1: other people have, not speaking ill of other people, and 249 00:15:08,316 --> 00:15:12,116 Speaker 1: really like having an attention to your words and the 250 00:15:12,196 --> 00:15:15,156 Speaker 1: language that you use. But the eight limp path doesn't 251 00:15:15,196 --> 00:15:17,796 Speaker 1: just stop with the yamas and the ni Yamas. When 252 00:15:17,796 --> 00:15:20,116 Speaker 1: we get back from the break, we'll continue our discussion 253 00:15:20,156 --> 00:15:23,476 Speaker 1: of Patanjali's other six limbs. We'll see where all those 254 00:15:23,476 --> 00:15:25,876 Speaker 1: tough yoga poses we use in the modern day fit 255 00:15:25,956 --> 00:15:28,716 Speaker 1: into the ancient stage's vision of the good life. And 256 00:15:28,756 --> 00:15:31,356 Speaker 1: we'll learn how a true eight limbed path towards flourishing 257 00:15:31,716 --> 00:15:34,556 Speaker 1: requires regulating not just the body, but also the mind. 258 00:15:35,036 --> 00:15:44,276 Speaker 1: The happiness lab will be right back. When you look 259 00:15:44,276 --> 00:15:49,276 Speaker 1: at people who are extreme athletes, like I think a 260 00:15:49,316 --> 00:15:54,596 Speaker 1: lot about ultramarathoners and people who run ultramarathons, they're not 261 00:15:54,676 --> 00:15:58,196 Speaker 1: doing that for their health, Like they're not obsessed with 262 00:15:58,236 --> 00:16:01,036 Speaker 1: that experience because it's like, oh my god, my body 263 00:16:01,156 --> 00:16:03,476 Speaker 1: is going to look this way. No, they are working 264 00:16:03,516 --> 00:16:07,556 Speaker 1: out deep psychological truth, so they are they are having 265 00:16:07,556 --> 00:16:11,876 Speaker 1: a spiritual experience. The ancient sage patan Jolly lived way 266 00:16:11,916 --> 00:16:15,356 Speaker 1: before modern fitness practices like CrossFit and tough Mutters were 267 00:16:15,356 --> 00:16:18,596 Speaker 1: a thing, but he still recognized that moving our bodies 268 00:16:18,676 --> 00:16:21,996 Speaker 1: could be an important step towards spiritual enlightenment. And that's 269 00:16:21,996 --> 00:16:24,596 Speaker 1: the logic behind the third and most famous limb of 270 00:16:24,636 --> 00:16:28,396 Speaker 1: patan Jolly's eight limbed path, the asanas. The asinas are 271 00:16:28,396 --> 00:16:31,396 Speaker 1: what most Westerners typically think of when they think of yoga, 272 00:16:31,716 --> 00:16:36,236 Speaker 1: the poses, things like downward facing dog, chaturanga, gomu casana, 273 00:16:36,356 --> 00:16:38,996 Speaker 1: and chair pose. But the key to getting the most 274 00:16:38,996 --> 00:16:42,116 Speaker 1: out of all these asanas isn't what most modern practitioners 275 00:16:42,156 --> 00:16:45,836 Speaker 1: think from Patan Jolly's perspective, the goal wasn't to twist 276 00:16:45,876 --> 00:16:49,756 Speaker 1: your body into an uncomfortable pretzel. Author and yoga instructor 277 00:16:49,836 --> 00:16:53,076 Speaker 1: Jessamine Stanley says that the original idea behind the asinas 278 00:16:53,316 --> 00:16:57,836 Speaker 1: was much simpler, asina really means to sit, so it's 279 00:16:57,876 --> 00:17:02,476 Speaker 1: not even as complicated as assume this specific posture. It's 280 00:17:02,516 --> 00:17:07,436 Speaker 1: literally like to be just to exist. Patan Jolli is 281 00:17:07,476 --> 00:17:11,876 Speaker 1: really saying that any form that your body takes is 282 00:17:12,556 --> 00:17:18,156 Speaker 1: assuming a shape that then is a part of this world, 283 00:17:18,476 --> 00:17:23,356 Speaker 1: and it's something that evolves for every person throughout their life, 284 00:17:23,436 --> 00:17:26,556 Speaker 1: depending on what's going on in their life. But the 285 00:17:26,636 --> 00:17:29,996 Speaker 1: reality is that you really only need to practice one posture, 286 00:17:30,236 --> 00:17:32,796 Speaker 1: and it can be any posture. The posture can be 287 00:17:33,116 --> 00:17:37,836 Speaker 1: sitting down, it can be lying on your back, it 288 00:17:37,916 --> 00:17:43,396 Speaker 1: can be standing up. That's sufficient posture because ultimately they're 289 00:17:43,596 --> 00:17:47,876 Speaker 1: very complex postures, and in truth, being able to just 290 00:17:48,796 --> 00:17:53,476 Speaker 1: be in stillness is the hardest posture. Jessamin tells her 291 00:17:53,516 --> 00:17:56,236 Speaker 1: students that this is the point performing all the yoga 292 00:17:56,236 --> 00:17:59,196 Speaker 1: poses they practice. The austins are there to help us 293 00:17:59,196 --> 00:18:02,276 Speaker 1: accept the hard challenges that come not on our yoga mats, 294 00:18:02,436 --> 00:18:05,676 Speaker 1: but in life. Let's take a posture like post For example, 295 00:18:06,036 --> 00:18:08,236 Speaker 1: you look at a posture like cheer pose and it's like, 296 00:18:08,556 --> 00:18:11,076 Speaker 1: what do I need to do? I need to turn 297 00:18:11,156 --> 00:18:14,916 Speaker 1: my thighs toward one another. I need to engage my core. 298 00:18:15,316 --> 00:18:20,116 Speaker 1: I need to fall down backwards while also sitting upright. 299 00:18:20,556 --> 00:18:23,476 Speaker 1: I need to lengthen out of the crowd of my head. 300 00:18:23,876 --> 00:18:27,116 Speaker 1: All of these things are things that I need to 301 00:18:27,156 --> 00:18:31,196 Speaker 1: do when I'm challenged, when someone is pushing back against 302 00:18:31,236 --> 00:18:36,636 Speaker 1: me at work, when I feel like someone is being 303 00:18:36,716 --> 00:18:40,476 Speaker 1: mean to me, when I'm feeling challenged, those are the 304 00:18:40,516 --> 00:18:42,316 Speaker 1: same things that I need to do. I need to 305 00:18:42,356 --> 00:18:44,836 Speaker 1: pull into my core. I need to try to fall 306 00:18:44,876 --> 00:18:48,756 Speaker 1: down backwards but also stay upright. I need to lengthen 307 00:18:48,916 --> 00:18:51,556 Speaker 1: up to the sky. I need to pull It's all 308 00:18:51,596 --> 00:18:54,996 Speaker 1: of these ideas that seemed theoretical and that seemed like 309 00:18:55,276 --> 00:18:59,996 Speaker 1: philosophical but that are really actually very practical, And I 310 00:19:00,036 --> 00:19:02,636 Speaker 1: think it makes it easier to deal with the parts 311 00:19:02,676 --> 00:19:06,596 Speaker 1: of life that are really hard, really really hard and 312 00:19:06,636 --> 00:19:09,756 Speaker 1: complicated and that are not meant to be anything other 313 00:19:09,796 --> 00:19:13,956 Speaker 1: than that. Like I think sometimes in life, really hard shit, 314 00:19:14,276 --> 00:19:17,196 Speaker 1: bad shit happens, and you think this isn't how things 315 00:19:17,236 --> 00:19:19,396 Speaker 1: are supposed to be things are supposed to be good. 316 00:19:19,476 --> 00:19:22,356 Speaker 1: I'm supposed to be happy. This is wrong, And what 317 00:19:22,476 --> 00:19:26,156 Speaker 1: yoga reminds is that everything in life is not good. 318 00:19:26,556 --> 00:19:29,596 Speaker 1: Everything in life is not happy. You need for things 319 00:19:29,596 --> 00:19:33,276 Speaker 1: to be hard so that you can actually strengthen from 320 00:19:33,316 --> 00:19:37,276 Speaker 1: the inside. So practice the things that you do when 321 00:19:37,356 --> 00:19:40,756 Speaker 1: things get hard. Pull into your core, become flexible in 322 00:19:40,836 --> 00:19:44,196 Speaker 1: your hamstrings, draw your butt cheeks together, whatever the things are. 323 00:19:44,476 --> 00:19:48,236 Speaker 1: Practice that in the moments that feel emotionally hard, and 324 00:19:48,316 --> 00:19:51,676 Speaker 1: you will be strengthened as a result. The fourth limb 325 00:19:51,716 --> 00:19:54,356 Speaker 1: of the eightfold path, it is also about harnessing something 326 00:19:54,436 --> 00:19:57,396 Speaker 1: that can help us get through tough times. Not mindful 327 00:19:57,476 --> 00:20:01,956 Speaker 1: movements as in the Ausinas, but mindful breath. It's called prana, 328 00:20:02,276 --> 00:20:07,996 Speaker 1: the full word as prana yama, Prana being this energy 329 00:20:08,036 --> 00:20:13,196 Speaker 1: that we we most consciously understand as breath, and so 330 00:20:14,076 --> 00:20:19,196 Speaker 1: breathwork becomes the focus of pranayama. Scientists have long recognized 331 00:20:19,236 --> 00:20:21,116 Speaker 1: that our breath can have a huge impact on our 332 00:20:21,156 --> 00:20:24,436 Speaker 1: well being. Take for example, one of the easiest ways 333 00:20:24,436 --> 00:20:27,556 Speaker 1: to shut off activation in our fighter flight system, or 334 00:20:27,556 --> 00:20:31,716 Speaker 1: what neuroscientists refer to as our sympathetic nervous system. You're 335 00:20:31,716 --> 00:20:34,436 Speaker 1: probably familiar with the activation of this system if you've 336 00:20:34,436 --> 00:20:37,516 Speaker 1: ever felt overwhelmed by too many demands at work, or 337 00:20:37,596 --> 00:20:41,196 Speaker 1: anxious after reading some scary news article, or pissed off 338 00:20:41,236 --> 00:20:44,916 Speaker 1: by an annoying email. Our sympathetic nervous system kicks in 339 00:20:45,076 --> 00:20:48,196 Speaker 1: whenever we feel under threat. It's a system that's only 340 00:20:48,196 --> 00:20:50,836 Speaker 1: supposed to turn on once in a while in moments 341 00:20:50,876 --> 00:20:53,716 Speaker 1: of urgent threat or danger, but many of us keep 342 00:20:53,756 --> 00:20:56,836 Speaker 1: this system running chronically, which leads to a whole host 343 00:20:56,956 --> 00:21:00,436 Speaker 1: of stress related illnesses and bad feelings. But there's a 344 00:21:00,436 --> 00:21:02,676 Speaker 1: fast and easy way to get our fighter flight systems 345 00:21:02,716 --> 00:21:04,796 Speaker 1: to chill out for a while, and we can do 346 00:21:04,836 --> 00:21:07,716 Speaker 1: that through our breath. There's evidence that we can switch 347 00:21:07,756 --> 00:21:11,516 Speaker 1: off sympathetic nervousness to activity simply by taking a slow, 348 00:21:11,636 --> 00:21:15,796 Speaker 1: deep belly breath, especially one with a long exhale. Pat 349 00:21:15,836 --> 00:21:18,556 Speaker 1: and Jolly wasn't a neuroscientist, but he realized that we 350 00:21:18,596 --> 00:21:20,636 Speaker 1: can use the breath to change the way we feel 351 00:21:20,636 --> 00:21:23,916 Speaker 1: in our bodies and our minds. But Jessamin says that 352 00:21:23,956 --> 00:21:26,876 Speaker 1: prani Yama isn't just about taking a few deep breaths 353 00:21:26,876 --> 00:21:32,516 Speaker 1: when we're feeling stressed. Prama is really like everything. Once 354 00:21:32,556 --> 00:21:36,836 Speaker 1: you focus on your breath and once you assume a posture, 355 00:21:36,956 --> 00:21:41,316 Speaker 1: whatever that posture is, then your body starts to go 356 00:21:41,396 --> 00:21:45,916 Speaker 1: into a state of actually engaging with what is underneath 357 00:21:45,916 --> 00:21:49,476 Speaker 1: your skin and what is happening beyond your mind. It's 358 00:21:49,516 --> 00:21:52,996 Speaker 1: starting to unite the way that your body moves and 359 00:21:53,076 --> 00:21:55,116 Speaker 1: the way that your mind works, and the way that 360 00:21:55,156 --> 00:21:58,116 Speaker 1: you feel so that you're able to understand yourself as 361 00:21:58,116 --> 00:22:01,036 Speaker 1: a full spiritual being. But if you really want to 362 00:22:01,116 --> 00:22:04,516 Speaker 1: understand yourself as a full spiritual being, you can't stop 363 00:22:04,516 --> 00:22:07,916 Speaker 1: at Praniyama. You also need to commit to practicing what's 364 00:22:07,956 --> 00:22:10,556 Speaker 1: discussed and the rest of the limbs of the eightfold Path, 365 00:22:11,036 --> 00:22:13,516 Speaker 1: the ones that we haven't talked about yet. We'll hear 366 00:22:13,556 --> 00:22:16,756 Speaker 1: more from Jessamine about what these final spiritual practices are 367 00:22:17,076 --> 00:22:18,796 Speaker 1: and how we can harness them to live and feel 368 00:22:18,876 --> 00:22:21,876 Speaker 1: better when the Happiness Lab gets back from the short break, 369 00:22:29,356 --> 00:22:40,476 Speaker 1: so that the last limbs of the eight limb path, Pratiahara, Darana, Diana, 370 00:22:40,556 --> 00:22:47,196 Speaker 1: and the Samodi are all the stages that happen once 371 00:22:47,276 --> 00:22:52,436 Speaker 1: you have united your breath with what reform your body 372 00:22:52,556 --> 00:22:56,156 Speaker 1: is taking. So far in our progress through Patanjali's path. 373 00:22:56,476 --> 00:22:59,596 Speaker 1: We've talked about the importance of the yamas our responsibilities 374 00:22:59,596 --> 00:23:03,436 Speaker 1: to other people. The ni yamas are responsibilities to ourselves. 375 00:23:03,876 --> 00:23:07,556 Speaker 1: The Austina's physical postures we can relax into distay, grounded 376 00:23:07,836 --> 00:23:11,396 Speaker 1: and prani yama, the importance of controlling our breath. And 377 00:23:11,436 --> 00:23:13,516 Speaker 1: if you're counting and keeping track of where we are 378 00:23:13,556 --> 00:23:15,956 Speaker 1: in the eight limbs, you might be tempted to think 379 00:23:15,996 --> 00:23:19,156 Speaker 1: that we basically hit the halfway point towards spiritual enlightenment. 380 00:23:19,556 --> 00:23:22,916 Speaker 1: But author and yoga instructor Jessamine Stanley's quick to point 381 00:23:22,916 --> 00:23:25,276 Speaker 1: out that Pat and Jolly didn't intend for the limbs. 382 00:23:25,276 --> 00:23:28,076 Speaker 1: He described to be boxes that we check off on 383 00:23:28,116 --> 00:23:31,276 Speaker 1: some spiritual to do list. So the idea behind the 384 00:23:31,356 --> 00:23:34,836 Speaker 1: eight limb path is that it provides structure for your life, 385 00:23:34,876 --> 00:23:39,116 Speaker 1: and it provides a way to go about taking care 386 00:23:39,196 --> 00:23:41,956 Speaker 1: of yourself, and then the way that you show up 387 00:23:41,956 --> 00:23:44,556 Speaker 1: in the world, and then the way that you are 388 00:23:44,716 --> 00:23:48,556 Speaker 1: engaging with the energy of the world, and then ultimately 389 00:23:48,636 --> 00:23:52,396 Speaker 1: the way that you process that energy and bring it 390 00:23:52,556 --> 00:23:56,476 Speaker 1: forth into back into the world. And I think that 391 00:23:57,436 --> 00:24:01,556 Speaker 1: when you say eight limb path, it's always like, okay, cool, 392 00:24:01,596 --> 00:24:03,956 Speaker 1: So I've done the first three. Once I get to 393 00:24:04,036 --> 00:24:06,356 Speaker 1: level eight, I will have figured out how to be 394 00:24:06,396 --> 00:24:09,996 Speaker 1: a perfect human. And it's like no All of the 395 00:24:10,076 --> 00:24:15,556 Speaker 1: limbs are happening at once, and there's no ending points. Ultimately, 396 00:24:16,196 --> 00:24:20,956 Speaker 1: you're just moving through and around them at all times. 397 00:24:21,636 --> 00:24:24,116 Speaker 1: The sutras are just the truth. They're the truth of 398 00:24:24,156 --> 00:24:28,276 Speaker 1: the human experience, and they can be applied in different 399 00:24:28,316 --> 00:24:31,556 Speaker 1: ways depending on what's going on in your life. Patan 400 00:24:31,636 --> 00:24:33,956 Speaker 1: Jolly's eight Limb Path was also not meant to be 401 00:24:33,996 --> 00:24:36,796 Speaker 1: a quick journey. His tips can't be mastered in a 402 00:24:36,836 --> 00:24:40,156 Speaker 1: forty five minute yoga class. His spiritual path was meant 403 00:24:40,156 --> 00:24:43,076 Speaker 1: to be a lifelong practice, which is kind of a relief, 404 00:24:43,396 --> 00:24:45,876 Speaker 1: especially since the last four limbs described in the eight 405 00:24:45,916 --> 00:24:48,796 Speaker 1: Limb Path may require even more time and care than 406 00:24:48,836 --> 00:24:52,676 Speaker 1: the earlier ones. Take for example, pat and Jolly's fifth limb, 407 00:24:52,796 --> 00:24:56,076 Speaker 1: which Jessamin thinks is probably the hardest for modern Western 408 00:24:56,116 --> 00:25:00,636 Speaker 1: practitioners to work through. It's called profe yahara, the commitment 409 00:25:00,676 --> 00:25:03,676 Speaker 1: to detaching from things external. What does Patu and Jelly 410 00:25:03,716 --> 00:25:06,916 Speaker 1: mean here by external things? Think what we look like, 411 00:25:07,076 --> 00:25:09,676 Speaker 1: how much money we have, the stuff we own, how 412 00:25:09,676 --> 00:25:12,316 Speaker 1: successful we are at work? And all the identities we 413 00:25:12,316 --> 00:25:16,556 Speaker 1: share online on social media. It's so hard because we 414 00:25:16,636 --> 00:25:21,236 Speaker 1: live in a world where we are constantly tapped into everything. 415 00:25:21,316 --> 00:25:25,876 Speaker 1: And I think that that idea of withdrawal and what 416 00:25:25,916 --> 00:25:28,876 Speaker 1: it means to withdraw and how you withdraw. Is it 417 00:25:28,996 --> 00:25:31,996 Speaker 1: all your senses? Is it only in certain circumstances? Is 418 00:25:32,036 --> 00:25:34,076 Speaker 1: it for an hour in the morning and then you're 419 00:25:34,116 --> 00:25:35,836 Speaker 1: good for the rest of the day, Like what does 420 00:25:35,876 --> 00:25:38,956 Speaker 1: that mean? And the reality is that there are no 421 00:25:39,716 --> 00:25:43,516 Speaker 1: hard and fast lines or limits. It's really just about 422 00:25:44,036 --> 00:25:47,236 Speaker 1: understanding it for yourself on a personal level. For me, 423 00:25:48,516 --> 00:25:53,036 Speaker 1: withdrawal of senses only happens when I accept the fact 424 00:25:53,076 --> 00:25:57,276 Speaker 1: that my senses are alive and are awake. And that 425 00:25:57,316 --> 00:26:00,596 Speaker 1: doesn't mean trying to shut them down or pretend that 426 00:26:00,876 --> 00:26:04,516 Speaker 1: certain things are and happening, or trying to avoid things. 427 00:26:04,556 --> 00:26:08,276 Speaker 1: It's just let it all be there, Let every sound 428 00:26:08,356 --> 00:26:12,316 Speaker 1: be there, like every connection be there. I'm just gonna 429 00:26:12,396 --> 00:26:15,756 Speaker 1: let it all hang out. That's when you can pull 430 00:26:15,756 --> 00:26:18,596 Speaker 1: into yourself. That's when you can withdraw. And the importance 431 00:26:18,636 --> 00:26:21,356 Speaker 1: of pulling into yourself leads us to both the sixth 432 00:26:21,436 --> 00:26:24,276 Speaker 1: and seventh limbs of the eightfold Path, which are known 433 00:26:24,316 --> 00:26:29,076 Speaker 1: as dharana concentration, and the practice that leads to daharana, 434 00:26:29,196 --> 00:26:32,756 Speaker 1: which is diana or meditation. If you've listened to other 435 00:26:32,836 --> 00:26:35,596 Speaker 1: episodes of The Happiness Lab, you've probably heard about the 436 00:26:35,636 --> 00:26:39,796 Speaker 1: many physical and psychological benefits of meditation and concentrating on 437 00:26:39,836 --> 00:26:42,916 Speaker 1: your internal experience of the present moment. There's evidence that 438 00:26:42,956 --> 00:26:47,316 Speaker 1: practicing meditation regularly can lead to reduced anxiety, less stress, 439 00:26:47,516 --> 00:26:51,356 Speaker 1: better sleep, and fewer negative emotions. But Jessemin worries that 440 00:26:51,396 --> 00:26:54,916 Speaker 1: the hype about meditation may sometimes cause modern practitioners to 441 00:26:54,956 --> 00:26:57,596 Speaker 1: miss out on the way the practice was intended back 442 00:26:57,636 --> 00:27:02,116 Speaker 1: in Patanjali's day. Meditation has become so trendy. I think 443 00:27:02,116 --> 00:27:05,996 Speaker 1: that it makes it seem more complicated than actually is. 444 00:27:06,116 --> 00:27:09,116 Speaker 1: But when you assume a posture, let's say that the pasture, 445 00:27:09,116 --> 00:27:12,036 Speaker 1: you're sitting cross legged, and you are working on your 446 00:27:12,036 --> 00:27:13,956 Speaker 1: breath work, and it doesn't need to be any kind 447 00:27:13,956 --> 00:27:17,196 Speaker 1: of complicated breathwork. It doesn't need to be alternate nostril 448 00:27:17,436 --> 00:27:20,356 Speaker 1: or lions roar or anything. It can literally just be 449 00:27:20,476 --> 00:27:23,276 Speaker 1: breathing through your nose out through your mouth. You can 450 00:27:23,316 --> 00:27:26,276 Speaker 1: close your eyes, you cannot close your eyes. It's not 451 00:27:26,356 --> 00:27:28,676 Speaker 1: that big of a deal, but you find the posture 452 00:27:28,716 --> 00:27:31,396 Speaker 1: that works for you. When you tune in, that's when 453 00:27:31,396 --> 00:27:35,516 Speaker 1: the concentration starts, Like, that's when that one pointedness, the 454 00:27:35,596 --> 00:27:39,636 Speaker 1: concentration derama, that's when that begins. I think sometimes when 455 00:27:39,676 --> 00:27:45,156 Speaker 1: you sit for meditation and you're withdrawing your senses, that 456 00:27:45,596 --> 00:27:48,996 Speaker 1: you think, oh, there's supposed to be this magic moment 457 00:27:49,196 --> 00:27:53,436 Speaker 1: where my mind is clear and I'm totally calm. But 458 00:27:53,596 --> 00:27:56,796 Speaker 1: what actually happens is that all your thoughts collide and 459 00:27:56,876 --> 00:28:00,916 Speaker 1: it just becomes complete chaos inside your mind, and that 460 00:28:02,196 --> 00:28:06,716 Speaker 1: contemplation you find that as the focus and you just 461 00:28:06,756 --> 00:28:08,996 Speaker 1: sit in a space of contemplation, so that I always 462 00:28:09,156 --> 00:28:12,436 Speaker 1: think that meditation is like the best time to obsess 463 00:28:12,476 --> 00:28:16,116 Speaker 1: over something like as a virgo rising, I'm here, I'm 464 00:28:16,156 --> 00:28:19,316 Speaker 1: anxious and think too much, just like anybody else, and 465 00:28:19,676 --> 00:28:22,116 Speaker 1: meditation is my time to like, Okay, now I can 466 00:28:22,356 --> 00:28:24,436 Speaker 1: make all those lists that I was thinking about. Now 467 00:28:24,436 --> 00:28:27,076 Speaker 1: I can obsess over everything. Because the reality is that 468 00:28:27,276 --> 00:28:30,716 Speaker 1: if you apply focus and if you stay in a 469 00:28:30,756 --> 00:28:34,316 Speaker 1: space of concentration, you can't obsess over anything forever. And 470 00:28:34,356 --> 00:28:37,516 Speaker 1: the more that you just let your mind not be clear, 471 00:28:38,076 --> 00:28:42,476 Speaker 1: the clearer it will become. When you're in that state 472 00:28:42,516 --> 00:28:46,396 Speaker 1: of concentration and when you are really present and are 473 00:28:46,436 --> 00:28:50,556 Speaker 1: withdrawing your senses and these This is Patiajara, this is Drana, 474 00:28:50,676 --> 00:28:53,996 Speaker 1: this is Diana, all in action. And that gets us 475 00:28:54,036 --> 00:28:57,116 Speaker 1: to the final limb of the eight limp path, somebody 476 00:28:57,636 --> 00:29:03,476 Speaker 1: or total absorption. I think that somebody. It's seen as 477 00:29:03,596 --> 00:29:07,396 Speaker 1: like final level of yoga. Look at what a good 478 00:29:07,476 --> 00:29:11,116 Speaker 1: yoga I am. And it's like, if you know that 479 00:29:11,156 --> 00:29:15,116 Speaker 1: you're experiencing somebody, you're not experiencing somebody. First of all, 480 00:29:15,676 --> 00:29:18,796 Speaker 1: potentially thought that somebody was the ultimate goal, not just 481 00:29:18,876 --> 00:29:21,316 Speaker 1: of the eight limbed path, but of a well lived life. 482 00:29:21,796 --> 00:29:24,476 Speaker 1: It's the point at which we finally achieve balance across 483 00:29:24,516 --> 00:29:27,596 Speaker 1: our mind, body, and soul. He envisioned it as a 484 00:29:27,596 --> 00:29:30,436 Speaker 1: sense of union between ourselves and all the other beings 485 00:29:30,436 --> 00:29:34,276 Speaker 1: in the universe. So, yeah, somebody is pretty intense, not 486 00:29:34,356 --> 00:29:37,836 Speaker 1: for the beginner, the deepest form of somebody. Ultimately, it 487 00:29:37,956 --> 00:29:40,876 Speaker 1: is death. It is to move beyond this world. Thinking 488 00:29:40,876 --> 00:29:43,196 Speaker 1: of the eight limb path, it's not the same as 489 00:29:43,276 --> 00:29:45,956 Speaker 1: like eight steps to a great life. It's this is 490 00:29:46,076 --> 00:29:50,436 Speaker 1: just what it means to be alive. Ultimately, it's not 491 00:29:50,556 --> 00:29:54,996 Speaker 1: really more complicated than that. As long as you practice 492 00:29:55,196 --> 00:29:59,756 Speaker 1: the first few limbs, the others will come naturally. You've 493 00:29:59,756 --> 00:30:02,236 Speaker 1: been thinking about the sutures for a long time. You know, 494 00:30:02,276 --> 00:30:04,996 Speaker 1: what have you learned from following the eight limbed path? 495 00:30:05,156 --> 00:30:08,956 Speaker 1: Any big insights that have come along the way, summarize, 496 00:30:09,996 --> 00:30:17,116 Speaker 1: But my biggest takeaway is that everything is okay. Everything 497 00:30:17,236 --> 00:30:20,356 Speaker 1: is exactly where it needs to be. The bumps in 498 00:30:20,436 --> 00:30:24,676 Speaker 1: the road are supposed to happen. The darkness has to 499 00:30:24,716 --> 00:30:28,756 Speaker 1: be there. If you don't experience a darkness, you cannot 500 00:30:28,876 --> 00:30:32,116 Speaker 1: understand the light. You cannot appreciate it. There is no 501 00:30:32,276 --> 00:30:35,756 Speaker 1: love without the opposite side. There is no love without 502 00:30:35,836 --> 00:30:41,116 Speaker 1: fear and hate. And when you can just accept it all, 503 00:30:42,556 --> 00:30:46,156 Speaker 1: there is so much beauty in this world. There's the 504 00:30:46,276 --> 00:30:51,596 Speaker 1: beauty becomes easier to see because you're not trying to pretend, 505 00:30:51,676 --> 00:30:56,356 Speaker 1: you're not obscuring it with nonsense. And also a part 506 00:30:56,396 --> 00:30:59,556 Speaker 1: of that is that the practice is going to ebb 507 00:30:59,636 --> 00:31:03,876 Speaker 1: and flow with time, and that it's just going to change. 508 00:31:03,956 --> 00:31:09,516 Speaker 1: It's always changing. Your needs and understandings are always involving. 509 00:31:10,156 --> 00:31:14,356 Speaker 1: And if you can say, like the difficulty is why 510 00:31:14,396 --> 00:31:19,556 Speaker 1: I'm here, I was built to withstand it. And actually 511 00:31:20,356 --> 00:31:23,676 Speaker 1: it's not even being built to withstand it, because some 512 00:31:23,716 --> 00:31:26,516 Speaker 1: things you're not built to withstand. Some things you are 513 00:31:26,636 --> 00:31:30,196 Speaker 1: meant to fall to the floor and to melt into 514 00:31:30,236 --> 00:31:34,396 Speaker 1: the pavement. It's supposed to be hard. That was the point, 515 00:31:34,916 --> 00:31:41,796 Speaker 1: And it's about awareness and losing the need to perform 516 00:31:41,916 --> 00:31:46,836 Speaker 1: any aspect of yourself, and ultimately like, as long as 517 00:31:46,876 --> 00:31:49,756 Speaker 1: you're in a state of acceptance of all that is, 518 00:31:49,876 --> 00:31:53,356 Speaker 1: no matter how you are, you're really living the eight 519 00:31:53,436 --> 00:31:56,476 Speaker 1: mon Path, doesn't It admits that committing to Pat and 520 00:31:56,556 --> 00:32:00,116 Speaker 1: Jelly's Eightfold Path isn't easy. She's quick to remind us 521 00:32:00,116 --> 00:32:02,796 Speaker 1: that it's called a practice for a reason. I think 522 00:32:02,796 --> 00:32:04,876 Speaker 1: that I am on a journey for the rest of 523 00:32:04,916 --> 00:32:08,236 Speaker 1: my life to accept what the universe has brought me, 524 00:32:08,636 --> 00:32:11,276 Speaker 1: and that the more that I can just accept that 525 00:32:11,356 --> 00:32:14,636 Speaker 1: it's an ongoing journey and that there will always be 526 00:32:14,916 --> 00:32:19,356 Speaker 1: new ways that that journey looks, the more that I 527 00:32:19,396 --> 00:32:24,196 Speaker 1: can accept that the better, because it's never going to end. Potentially, 528 00:32:24,276 --> 00:32:26,396 Speaker 1: knew that following the path would take a lot of 529 00:32:26,396 --> 00:32:30,476 Speaker 1: work and that you probably wouldn't fully reach somebody, But 530 00:32:30,636 --> 00:32:33,836 Speaker 1: Jessamin will attest that sticking with this lifelong ancient journey, 531 00:32:34,116 --> 00:32:37,316 Speaker 1: both on and off the yoga mat is worth it. 532 00:32:37,316 --> 00:32:40,836 Speaker 1: It's like these truths of being revealed to me in 533 00:32:40,996 --> 00:32:45,436 Speaker 1: different ways in every moment of every day, and it's 534 00:32:45,516 --> 00:32:50,676 Speaker 1: beautiful and I'm grateful because to live is such a privilege, 535 00:32:50,996 --> 00:32:56,756 Speaker 1: and there's so much dope shit that happens every day, 536 00:32:57,476 --> 00:33:03,436 Speaker 1: and if it means hitting the pavement every day, it's 537 00:33:03,476 --> 00:33:06,636 Speaker 1: worth it. Talking with Jessamin has reminded me that there's 538 00:33:06,636 --> 00:33:08,476 Speaker 1: so much more to yoga that a bunch of twisted 539 00:33:08,516 --> 00:33:11,556 Speaker 1: poses on some colorful mat and that committing to a 540 00:33:11,556 --> 00:33:14,316 Speaker 1: broader version of the yoga path can pay real dividends. 541 00:33:15,116 --> 00:33:18,236 Speaker 1: So why not take a few steps down Patanjali's ancient path. 542 00:33:18,796 --> 00:33:22,076 Speaker 1: You can start by thinking more intentionally about the responsibilities 543 00:33:22,076 --> 00:33:24,516 Speaker 1: you have towards other people and to your own body 544 00:33:24,516 --> 00:33:26,956 Speaker 1: and spirit. You can try to find a space to 545 00:33:27,036 --> 00:33:30,236 Speaker 1: meditate and breathe, either in a tough yoga posture or 546 00:33:30,276 --> 00:33:33,636 Speaker 1: just lying down. You can think more critically about your 547 00:33:33,636 --> 00:33:37,116 Speaker 1: relationship with all things external and commit to getting back 548 00:33:37,116 --> 00:33:39,916 Speaker 1: to that meditation practice you know is pretty good for you. 549 00:33:40,516 --> 00:33:43,076 Speaker 1: And remember it's not about striving for the next level 550 00:33:43,236 --> 00:33:46,756 Speaker 1: like in most modern practices. It's more about accepting that 551 00:33:46,796 --> 00:33:48,716 Speaker 1: the path is there to guide you on a journey 552 00:33:48,836 --> 00:33:51,636 Speaker 1: towards better health and happiness that will last a lifetime. 553 00:33:52,516 --> 00:33:55,636 Speaker 1: Next week, the Happiness Lab will continue its investigation of 554 00:33:55,716 --> 00:33:59,396 Speaker 1: spiritual traditions from South Asia. We'll meet a scholar who 555 00:33:59,396 --> 00:34:02,436 Speaker 1: will help us explore the tenets of Sikhism, and we'll 556 00:34:02,436 --> 00:34:04,916 Speaker 1: see that committing to the full humanity of all people 557 00:34:05,316 --> 00:34:07,756 Speaker 1: may be a quicker path to well being than we expect. 558 00:34:08,236 --> 00:34:10,116 Speaker 1: So I hope you'll join me back here next week 559 00:34:10,276 --> 00:34:13,196 Speaker 1: for the next episode of Happiness Lessons of the Ancients 560 00:34:13,436 --> 00:34:19,236 Speaker 1: With me. It is Doctor Laurie Santos. The Happiness Lab 561 00:34:19,316 --> 00:34:21,676 Speaker 1: is co written by Ryan Dilley and is produced by 562 00:34:21,756 --> 00:34:25,316 Speaker 1: Ryan Dilley, Courtney Grano, and Britney Brown. The show was 563 00:34:25,356 --> 00:34:28,396 Speaker 1: mastered by Evan Viola and our original music was composed 564 00:34:28,396 --> 00:34:32,956 Speaker 1: by Zachary Silver. Special thanks to Greta Kone, Eric Sandler, 565 00:34:33,156 --> 00:34:37,876 Speaker 1: Carl Migliori, Nicole Morano, Morgan Ratner, Jacob Weisberg, my agent, 566 00:34:37,956 --> 00:34:40,796 Speaker 1: Ben Davis, and the rest of the Pushkin team. The 567 00:34:40,836 --> 00:34:43,356 Speaker 1: Happiness Lab is brought to you by Pushkin Industries and 568 00:34:43,436 --> 00:34:45,076 Speaker 1: by me, Doctor Laurie Santos.