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How yoga helped Meesha Shafi relieve her cluttered mind

How yoga helped Meesha Shafi relieve her cluttered mind

"Last year, I vowed to learn more about how to get rid of the noise we carry with us...," writes Meesha
15 Mar, 2017

For 2017, I set several New Year’s resolutions for myself which is highly uncharacteristic of me as I have failed miserably in the past and hence try to avoid making grand promises to myself — especially ones that usually require will power and discipline.

But two years ago, I began yoga and I often find myself sitting in a cross- legged, lotus position with my hands on my knees, palms facing upwards, trying to focus on being upright, silent and mindful of the present, both figuratively and physically while struggling with an avalanche of thoughts that clutter my head.  

My daily practice begins with about 15 to 20 minutes of varied forms of deep breathing and meditation. On a good day, I would be good doing this for about five seconds. No kidding. But almost right away, I would find myself battling with relentless clutter flying into my headspace. Imagine ninja stars, with cut-throat blades, razor sharp and honed, well-experienced at invading my mind with to-do lists, grudges, unspoken anger or anxiety about upcoming tasks.

Regrets spun around and flew at me with the speed of lightening, reminding me of creative juices that I forgot to bottle up for some eventual, higher purpose. Interesting to note that the following 30 to 40 minutes of splits, squats, spinal bends, inversions and near-impossible stretches were way less daunting. 

According to my teacher, I should try and reject my thoughts. In other words, dodge those ninja stars like Bruce Lee, until they gave up. And I did overpower them. Not by blocking or resisting their entry into my mind, because what you resist surely persists, but by letting them enter with the ease and pleasant sensation of a cool breeze passing through, uninvited may they be.

Who has time for this? I thought … and since we all know that time is money, I thought I’ll just save myself some of that good stuff at the tail end of the meditation and started showing up later for class. Winding down at the end of a yoga session with a savasana, or corpse pose as it is commonly known, seemed to me hardly useful for increasing my strength and fitness. It’s called ‘corpse pose’? come on! So I trimmed those 10 minutes off at the end as well. 

What was I left with? A physical workout? Yes, and all I had to do was complete the entire chopped-up routine. It was mildly rewarding and my progress was mediocre. To cut a long story short, no big changes were felt or seen. 

It wasn’t until my amazing teacher gave me a firm yet gentle nudge to start attempting the whole hour from beginning to end, that I started to really understand what meditation means. According to him, I should try and reject my thoughts. In other words, dodge those ninja stars like Bruce Lee, until they gave up. And I did overpower them. Not by blocking or resisting their entry into my mind, because what you resist surely persists, but by letting them enter with the ease and pleasant sensation of a cool breeze passing through, uninvited may they be. So the aim is to let them move in and move on. Sure they can penetrate my consciousness, but are not invited to stay.

Last year, I vowed to learn and find out more about how to get rid of the noise we carry with us everywhere at all times and most importantly how to silence it. This knowledge is more precious than any worldly treasure.

While meditating, your silence becomes your wisest teacher. In its nothingness is everything, because nothing else can coach you more about yourself — the mindful of your own presence, the steady rhythm of your breath and a heightened awareness with which your body is seated.

Last year, I vowed to learn and find out more about how to get rid of the noise we carry with us everywhere at all times and most importantly how to silence it. This knowledge is more precious than any worldly treasure. So far, I have learnt that most of it is absolutely related to everything except the present. Things that happened once upon a time and things that we fear or dread might end up happening. Both being pointless directions as these are truly beyond our control. 

I am learning that I was wrong. Time is not money till you use it to stay connected to yourself. And if we can understand that, meditation need not only be practised in its conventional way. Your headspace is a far more valuable and lucrative territory than however many acres in Bedian.

Here are 10 things I have decided to do:

1- Playing and listening to even more music. 

2- Dancing. 

3- Reading hard copies 

4- Enjoying what I am seeing, smelling, hearing and touching instead of taking pictures. 

5- Keeping a journal. 

6- Writing down my blessings first thing in the morning. 

7- Taking more baths than showers. 

8- Looking into the eyes of the person I’m talking to. 

9- Drawing/painting the things I want to see in real life. 

10- Thanking the future in advance, for meeting my great expectations. 

...and here are 10 things I have decided to LOSE:

1- Facebook 

2- Screens at mealtimes.

3- Gossip.

4- Charging my phone at my bedside.

5- Checking emails, messages or social media 1 hour before sleeping and after waking up. 

6- Answering calls while in someone’s company. 

7- Keeping my phone in my hand while in the company of friends. 

8- Negative talkers. Complainers. Naysayers. 

9- Caffiene/Sugar. Anything that is known to bring you crashing down. 

10- Looking for someone to blame or expecting another to make you happy.


Originally published in Dawn, March 12th, 2017

Comments

riz Mar 15, 2017 10:21am
when you have plenty of money you will have such Dos and Don't Do,, here we are running and sweating for food and for basic necessities to keep ourselves alive,,, here we see rich elite goals are dancing and painting,, I wish we al have such life,,
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Hussain Mar 15, 2017 10:50am
I have an action 1000 times better then Yoga, That is Namaz Alhamdulillah. In yoga Just you will have satisfaction but with Namaz I have Satisfaction & Communication ☺
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SURYA KANT AGRAWAL Mar 15, 2017 10:58am
@Hussain Absolutely. But how many can say true Namaz.
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Rashid Mar 15, 2017 11:26am
@Hussain agreed
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Nitin Mar 15, 2017 11:30am
Fantastic article, you have inspired me on few things , thank you.
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saqib Mar 15, 2017 11:31am
a mediocre singer promoted through lifestyle and fashion mags
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Sumit verma Mar 15, 2017 11:31am
Just awesome..no words..speechless
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Sumit verma Mar 15, 2017 11:32am
Just awesome...no words...speechless..
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BNJ Mar 15, 2017 11:35am
Yoga is the science of human mind and body. In a world that is totally engrossed in external beauty,Yoga is the only medication for Internal beauty.
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SATT Mar 15, 2017 11:39am
@Hussain In Yoga you won't only get communication but also attachment. Yoga itself means "to integrate".
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sajid Mar 15, 2017 11:52am
Jazakallah. Definitely, i think if you pray five times and keep yourself in wudoo its the best way to keep fit and peace of mind. People do not understand this. being religious is one big way of getting mental relief.
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Ramadosa Mar 15, 2017 11:56am
Don't be afraid of Yoga! It will not negate your Namaz! It is now universal --in every corner of the Earth. It is about finding oneself, disciplining the mind AND BODY! BTW; It is not anti-Islam!
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rajdip Mar 15, 2017 12:07pm
@Hussain dear it is not prayer why u all are relating with namaz and prayer and all tat religious stuff. it is just physical and well being exercise recognised by 177 members of UN out of which many are muslims countries . is it necessary to indulge religion in every aspects of life?
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Alibaba Mar 15, 2017 12:13pm
You've just penned down what I've been experiencing Misha! It's so difficult to sit alone (with yourself). Social media/TV/people, we need all these because we can't sit with ourselves. I've been trying meditation but longer I sit, louder this internal noise gets and I end up feeling even more restless. But I won't give up. May be one day I'll learn the art of being at ease with my self.
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Satish Kumar Dogra Mar 15, 2017 12:29pm
Misha's Sajan naal gallan kariye" is my all-time favourite.
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Nazish Islam Mar 15, 2017 12:36pm
Amazing Read!
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Arun-KS Mar 15, 2017 03:50pm
I feel proud that Meditation belongs to us. It is just unexplainable what we feel in Meditation. Irrespective of religion, one should try it. And once experienced, no one can live without Meditating. It is just beyond mind's imagination. I practice Meditation.
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asad Mar 15, 2017 04:29pm
Nice to share
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yussouf m mir Mar 16, 2017 01:03am
we do yoga three times a day--every body must do it
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kerala Mar 16, 2017 05:49am
So India's gift to world reaching more people this year!
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AYZA Mar 16, 2017 06:54am
It's good to learn that yoga is helping Meesha, and it certainly has its advantages.
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Bupi Mar 16, 2017 07:02am
@Hussain Good and you should give name to that moves
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jaredlee67 Mar 16, 2017 07:56am
Yoga is about relaxing mind, body, and soul. How can your body feel relaxed when it is wrapped with expensive tight clothing (and also minimal clothing)? And while, in your view, facebook distracts you, then why worry about getting all this attention in the media. I'm glad you are enjoying doing yoga, but why make it public, just do it privately in your private space. This is because the benefits you've experienced are in themselves a cause of distraction for those who practice yoga. These are superficial benefits. The actual deeper level change requires that we crush our ego and be patient during adversity. And those who experience those deeper level changes end up maintaining silence. Some of them become yogis, others, as I heard in a sufi kalam become the following: Banay Sufi jazbat main behnay wale Qalndar baney ishq main jalnay wale Qutub ban gaey ranjo gham sehnay wale Wali ban gaey Ya Ali Kehnay Walay Enjoy life the way it comes to you!
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Truth Mar 16, 2017 08:26am
Yoga means to awaken the kundalini shakti which lies in our lowest chakra and for our soul to become one with God. Yoga is both meditation and communion with God. Yoga is the path to liberation/moksha.
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sameer Mar 16, 2017 01:03pm
@Arun-KS - It is for the Human race my frined. Dont belittle Vedic science to a set of followers and give it a narrow minded dimensions of race and religion
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Red Mar 16, 2017 04:35pm
Yes she can offord this
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