Photo by Johannes Weber on Unsplash
Imagine a spinning top. According to renowned yoga teacher and author Eric Schiffman, stillness is like a perfectly centered top, spinning so fast it appears motionless. “It appears this way not because it isn’t moving, but because it’s spinning at full speed.”
Moving Into Stillness: The Paradox of Yoga
The yoga mat has become my sacred space, a canvas where the dance between movement and stillness finds expression. As someone who used to live life at a frenetic pace, yoga has taught me the art of slowing down, of breathing into each asana and finding pockets of serenity amidst the chaos.
Yoga is paradoxical in essence – it demands movement to unite us with stillness. The flowing vinyasas, the seamless transitioning from one pose to the next, all serve to quiet the mental chatter and bring us into the present moment. With each inhale and exhale, we shed layers of stress and tension, uncovering the stillness that resides within.
On the mat, I’ve learned that stillness isn’t the absence of movement, but rather the ability to move with presence and intention. Each asana becomes a meditation in motion, requiring us to find our drishti (focused gaze) and root down through our foundations. In that sublime unity of mind, body, and breath, the restlessness subsides, and we taste the nectar of tranquility.
The art of moving into stillness extends far beyond the yoga mat. It’s a metaphor for life itself, teaching us to flow with grace through challenges while anchoring ourselves in our truth. The frenzy of our modern world can leave us feeling unmoored, but yoga reminds us to come back home to ourselves, to the stillness that is our birthright.
As I step off the mat, I carry that essence of serenity with me, like a talisman against the relentless demands of daily life. The bustling city streets become my moving meditation, and I learn to find pockets of stillness even in the midst of chaos. That’s the true gift of yoga – the ability to cultivate an inner sanctuary, a sacred stillness that cannot be disrupted by external circumstances.
So let us embrace the paradox, my fellow yogis. Let us move with intention, breathing into each transition, and in doing so, discover the profound stillness that lies at the heart of all movement. For in that stillness, we find our true selves, unburdened by the weight of the world, free to soar.
Simple Yoga Routine to Cultivate Stillness
Mountain Pose (Tadasana)Stand tall with feet together, arms at your sides.Inhale deeply, feeling the ground beneath your feet.Exhale and let your shoulders relax.
2. Forward Fold (Uttanasana)
From Mountain Pose, inhale and raise your arms overhead.Exhale, hinge at your hips, and fold forward, letting your head and neck relax.Hold for 5 breaths.
3. Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana)
Come onto your hands and knees in a tabletop position.Inhale, arch your back, and lift your head (Cow Pose).Exhale, round your spine, and tuck your chin to your chest (Cat Pose).Repeat for 5 breaths.
4. Child’s Pose (Balasana)
From tabletop, sit back on your heels and stretch your arms forward, lowering your forehead to the mat.Breathe deeply and hold for 5 breaths.Photo by Nikola Murniece on Unsplash
5. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
From Child’s Pose, lift your hips and straighten your legs to form an inverted V shape.Spread your fingers wide and press firmly into the mat.Hold for 5 breaths.Photo by Look Studio on Unsplash
6. Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
Step one foot forward into a lunge and turn the back foot out.Raise your arms parallel to the ground, gaze over your front hand.Hold for 5 breaths on each side.
7. Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)
Sit with legs extended, inhale and lengthen your spine.Exhale, fold forward from the hips, reaching for your feet.Hold for 5 breaths.Photo by Anton Shuvalov on Unsplash
8. Corpse Pose (Savasana)
Lie on your back with arms at your sides, palms facing up.Close your eyes and focus on your breath.Stay here for 5–10 minutes, finding complete stillness.
By incorporating this simple routine into your daily practice, you can cultivate a sense of stillness and presence that will carry you through the rest of your day. Remember, the goal is not perfection but to find peace in each movement and breath.
So let us embrace the paradox, my fellow yogis. Let us move with intention, breathing into each transition, and in doing so, discover the profound stillness that lies at the heart of all movement. For in that stillness of the “perfectly centered top, spinning so fast it appears motionless,” we find our true selves, unburdened by the weight of the world, free to soar.
The Paradox of Stillness: Finding Sacred Movement on the Yoga Mat was originally published in Moving into Stillness on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.