8 Limbs of Yoga - Ishvara Pranidhana

“From trustful surrender to Ishvara comes samadhi.” — Sutra 2:45

In the past, the word surrender itself for me meant giving up or giving in, no longer fighting the fight.

That is one perspective. A very limited perspective.

There is a much more expanded perspective on surrender that I share with you all today. The fifth Niyama of the 8 limbs of Yoga is Ishvara Pranidhana.

Ishvara Pranidhana is trustful surrender to God.  It requires strength and above all courage to lean in to Source, to God, to something much bigger than our fears, doubts and limited perspectives. It is a practice that (thank goodness) can be developed.

“Surrender is not something that can be willed into being”.

I was reminded of this recently.   I have a history of panic attacks driving on the freeway, and not long ago a trip to San Antonio took six hours because I convinced myself I could not do it at all…. At least not on the freeway.

Since then, my Gurudevi gave me a practice: drive the Flyover on I-45 every day.

And so I do.

Rain or shine.  Sad, happy, angry, scared, terrified, late night, running late ….all of that is irrelevant, I drive the flyover and have not missed a day yet.

Ishvara Pranidhana has meant stopping the indulgent thinking around fear.  It has meant to focus inward and to sustain that focus.  It has meant to choose to breathe deeply.  It has meant to smile …BIG, as I face it all.  It has meant to dare to trust that I could do it. It has meant to open my arms and heart and believe that God has got me. And then, indeed, it is Grace that gets me to the other side.

Most recently I have started to dedicate this practice to those who are treated inhumanely - to those who are in cages, to those who are being trafficked, to those being killed under the false name of righteousness  - I direct my energy, love, courage & trustful surrender and the profound realization that I get to face my fears - and in this act of  Ishvara Pranidhana, I send out a ripple that moves us closer to the light of love.

With Deep Gratitude for my teacher, the teachings and the path I walk as a Master’s Path Student

Warmly,

Black Belt Circle of Rasa Yoga

Gayatri Asita 🥋 Gracie Alcocer