• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • ABOUT
    • MEET JOSH AND TERRY
    • GRATITUDE
    • OUR FAVORITE THINGS
  • CONTACT
  • WRITING
    • BOOKS
    • BLOG
  • PODCAST
  • My Courses
  • Log In
  • Cart
Josh & Terry Summers

Josh & Terry Summers

Creative and functional approach to the spiritual path, weaving insights and practices from Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and ancient wisdom traditions

  • PRACTICE ONLINE
  • ON-DEMAND EDUCATION
    • Short workshops (2-3hrs)
    • In-depth courses (7-10hrs)
    • Teacher Training Modules (25-50hrs)
    • Summers School of Yin Yoga
  • LIVE/ONLINE EVENTS
  • 1:1

Persistent Energy

September 23, 2012

This week, we’ll begin a look at the second Factor of Awakening: Energy or Effort (Virya).

In some respects, developing a skillful relationship to the energy and effort that goes into practice is vitally important if we are to make any realistic progress along the path. At times it’s important to know when to apply more effort, increasing one’s determination, and at other times, its equally important to know when to back off, relax and cultivate inner-ease.

In coming weeks, I’ll be looking at two sides of that question, in terms of the yin and yang dynamics of effort.

But before getting into the nitty gritty, I wanted to reflect more broadly on the theme of energy for practice, itself. We’re all familiar with the phrase, “fare-weather fan”, referring to a person who supports a sports team when the likelihood of playoff victory is high (ahem, overnight Bruins fans!) The sun is shining and these fans are all too happy to come out and cheer.

In spirituality, I’ve noticed an inverted tendency. When the dung starts to pile up that’s the moment when most people seek to ‘re-connect’ with their spiritual practice. When illness, break-up, death, or hard-luck strikes, that’s when they start signing up for meditation retreats, buying Pema Chodron books, and re-upping their yoga studio memberships.

Noticing this tendency, I’ve been tossing around the phrase, “foul-weather yogi” –the one who only practices when miserable.  (This tendency accounts for the first 5 years of my practice).

So how to break that cycle, if, indeed, we’re caught in it? The best advice I’ve heard came from Sharon Salzberg’s teacher, Munindra.  He told Sharon to make a small sign that read, “Just put the body here”, with an arrow pointing down at the meditation cushion. That was her practice, just putting the body in place. Not to wonder if the conditions were right, or if practice was necessary… but just to show up with however it was. This week, I encourage, and even exhort, you to practice in an even, steady way, everyday, no matter what.  Just try it for this week, especially if you’re a ‘foul-weather yogi’.  Much more on the effort and energy in practice next week.

 

Originally published on June 23, 2011

Primary Sidebar

  • Yin Yoga Essentials
  • Qi Harmonization and Yin Yoga
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine
  • Yin Meditation
  • Qi Gong
  • Dharma

Recommended Posts

How Yin Yoga Harmonizes Qi: A Holistic Model – Part 1

The Way of Yin – Receptivity and Creativity on the Path

The Biochemistry of Qi

The Four Principles of Yin Yoga

Footer

Find us around the web

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Instagram

Loading...

Join us!

Walk the path with us and receive our regular updates and reflections, along with a free copy of Josh’s ebook, “The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga” and a FREE 2-week trial to our online Sangha.

Copyright © 2023 · Josh & Terry Summers. Design by Great Oak Circle. Privacy Policy

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Josh & Terry Summers
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.