Prayatna-śaithilya – without effort

«From relaxation of effort and endless unity»  (Yoga-sūtra, 2.47). 

This verse is part of the definition of āsana, which is found in Yoga-sutras. Prayatna is “effort”, while śaithilya means “relaxation”, “looseness”, or more generally “loosen”, relax in respect to a rule, to a forcing.

Maybe you won’t do great things this month, at least in the second half, but a moment of indulgence where you can loosen up, is welcome. Easter promises to be positive with a beautiful Moon in conjunction. In general, you don’t need to strive for positivity, you just have to stay open and relaxed. You don’t have to go anywhere, the world will come to you!

IN PRACTICE  

Makara-āsana, crocodile pose

It is a pose of relaxation, yet it is not completely abandoned. You can look forward, you can enjoy the show. Practice it every day for at least a couple of minutes.

Awareness exercise

Do you happen to want to take control of the situation? Leave it alone for once, relax a moment and watch what happens without your intervention. It obviously doesn’t mean that you don’t have to act if you’re asked to or that you don’t have to do your duty, but just that you’re not the savior of the world and that perhaps things are resolved even with a more relaxed attitude.

Mantra of the month

«Relaxed».