Walking on the edge of strength and spirit

This is a reflection more than a beginning of a discussion thread, but would be interested on anyone else view on a similar subject.

The nature of any practice is to develop capacities beyond the limits set by our self - to transcend.  Be it meditation, yoga, philosophical study, religious introspection, or as the subject here is a focus strength training.  Any system of practice has the capacity to set us free from the normal waking consciousness and into different states or stages of development.  These same systems of practice also have the capacity to limit our capacity of growth through attachment, routine, egoism, illusion, delusion, lack of mindfulness and of minimal spiritual intent.

This is where I have found myself with my own practice.  No longer do I feel connected to strength training in a developmental capacity, rather I feel limited in pursuing lifting as a form of strength and body training without reflection.  Its the same reason I needed to leave a yoga asana practice - the common link is me.

So I find myself thinking about the edge between practice as a focus on to itself and practice as a form beyond itself.  Is it natural to fall in and out of attachment within these practices, and how does one recognise the signs before we feel we have drifted too far from the edge and into a maya of form over real substance.  I don't want to withdraw this time, deny the nature of my true self and the relationship to a practice I know instinctively has a deep and profound capacity for deep introspection.  So what do I do from here…..continue, change, withdraw (maybe all three).

 When you walk the edge of strength and spirit maybe this is natural, a falling in and out of spirit.  Maybe a consistency of a strength training practice is important to reveal this evolution, reflecting that spirit may not always be the focus, but a dedicated intense path that strength training is will break us down spiritually only to build us back up.

Re: Walking on the edge of strength and spirit

Damon -

First, it is good to see you back here.

Perhaps one does not fall in out of spirit so much as reshuffling the priority of focus (or perhaps occassional loosing focus?) of the four quadrants.

That is what it is for me, at least.

Recently, I've had difficulty considering any “training” as that - training.  Extend that training to being a combination of “mind, body, spirit,” and I'm not sure what is going on.

I do know I've stepped away from heavy lifting.  Yet, every morning I am running.  Every morning I am jumping.  Doing pull ups, et ceteral.  Twice a week , depending on week/mood/whatever sometimes more frequent, I work with dumbells.

Actually, I do not know what I'm trying to say here, except for “I hear you, Damon, and am connecting with your observation.”

Re: Walking on the edge of strength and spirit

Jeepdog

Thanks for hearing me on this one. 

Its actually good to be back and open to discussing what I am going through with this practice.  Ive been a bit reclusive especially since going through some major changes, training, life, family etc.  Ive also been a bit disconnected from deeper forms of practice with all that has been happening - hence the post - and I guess it came to a point where I felt there was too much superficiality in what I was doing with the strength training.

I ideally would be able to engage in spirit part of the practice regardless of what is happening, but I couldn't maintain the focus of this  intent while everything else was in flux.  I had to withdraw away and focus on the change and different priorities rather than induce more change and turmoil through the practice.   

Re: Walking on the edge of strength and spirit

Damon,