The Yoga in a cup of tea
Reflections on practice
Where does the yoga live, is it on the mat, in the body or somewhere else? I’ve been reflecting on where the yoga is in a cup of tea.
In the morning I tend to wake up early and walk to the kitchen. Boiling the kettle I select a favourite mug, pick a tea bag from the tin and feel the cool tiles under my feet. As I wait for the water to boil I look out from the kitchen window. It is a large window, and from two floors up all I can really see is sky. The different seasons bring different colours, sometimes pink, sometimes blue, more often than not grey.
I pour the boiling water in to the mug and watch the steam rise, this, especially in the cold months, is the most welcoming of sites. Removing the teabag I hold the hot mug in my hands, the warm fragrance drifting towards me and I take a breath, down into the root of my body and exhale slowly.
Welcome to the new day.
There was a time when I thought I had to use this small amount of time to do something, a physical yoga practice, run, household chores or writing. I was putting pressure on myself to use this time “wisely”, what was the point of getting up early to have a cup of tea only to return with it to bed and rest.
In trying to understand this I considered the eight limbs of yoga by the Philosopher Patanajali from over 2000 years ago. One of the limbs, the Niyamas (observances) contains the observance of Tapas. Tapas translates as discipline, the Sanskrit word tap means, to burn. It feels at first, that this observance is about fiery physical practice, and of course it can be, but what are the other lessons?
When we look deeper into Tapas, it’s also about repetition of practices, it’s about taking the time to do something regularly that brings you benefit. My slow morning cup of tea sets me up for the day, it gives me a moment of quiet reflection before the business begins, I can read something or rest for a few extra moments. It gives me so much more than it takes away.
The day awaits for all that fire, I choose to start in stillness and that is where the yoga lives in a cup of tea, for me.