An Eagle's Perspective

For inspiration this week we look at Eagles Pose, Garudasana. In the book Hatha Yoga, The Hidden Language by Swami Sivananda Radha it states, “THE EAGLE IS THE KING of the birds, a symbol of power and victory… Eagles are symbolic for sharp sight, for penetrating vision. If you can see through yourself, how you lay your own traps you can avoid them. Because the eagle has clear sight, it can recognize things from a distance in time to take action.”

To get clear sighted like the Garuda we first need to get present and aware, so whether we are on or off our mat we need to pause and take mindful breaths. One mindful breath is enough to make some space between our constant thoughts and get us centred. Once we are centred in this moment, and clear minded we can then practice self-observation (being a witness to our mind).  Sometimes a storm might be brewing and we can look for the signals if we are alert. That figurative storm might be a situation that triggers our limiting belief systems and with practice we can look out for signs that we have been triggered and then take action.

Triggers are events or interactions that we have with others, that draw forth a strong emotional reaction. Being aware of what triggers us is an important step to dealing with them but we first have to be present and focused. Below is list of responses that may indicate that you have just been triggered.

You feel a strong emotion and immediately feel the need to:

·       Justify your response.

·       Make up an excuse.

·       Feel the need to be right.

·       Lash our physically or verbally.

·       Shut down, feel frozen or run away.

·       Dramatise the situation, make a scene.

·       Play the victim or exhibit your vulnerability.

·       Try to control the outcome.

·       Cry to get a better response.

·       Surrender and feel helpless.

·       Self-punish.

·       Make a joke to appear as though it has no affect.

Through mindful breathing we find clarity and create space, this then gives us the chance to act on our triggers rather than mindlessly re-act to those triggers. When we act from an Eagles Perspective of clarity, focus, recognition and swift action we are strong and victorious like the Garuda and we can calmly soar above the storms and chaos of life.

Quotes:

·  “An individual encountering the river of life from the narrow perspective of his own particular river bank may occasionally need to call on his eagle nature to lift his range of vision to take in more of the river, to see all of the curves and turns and changes. Then he may put his own situation into better perspective and see other possibilities.” Johnson, She, 58.

·  "The ribs are the wings of the body. Open your wings.” ~ B.K.S. Iyengar.

·  “The eyesight for an eagle is what thought is to a man.” ― Dejan Stojanovic, The Creator.

·  “When a storm is coming all other birds take shelter. The eagle alone, avoids the storm by flying above it. So, in the storms of life… May your heart soar like an eagle.” ~ Unknown.

·  “The eagle likes to fly high above the world, not to look down on people, but to encourage them to look up.” ~ Unknown

·  “You cannot fly like an eagle on the wings of a wren.” ~William Henry Hudson.

·  “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” ~ Victor E. Frankl.

This was used as the Spirit Yoga Theme for the week, I hope it can encourage you to soar to greater heights.