I used to think that I hate a routine and I was always running away from fixed schedules, fixed places and definite time, searching for freedom of making decisions in a moment, guided by my volatile desires.
Few years ago, I found myself in an ashram in India, where I had no space for personal wishes, free time and space to be spontaneous. In order to stay in the ashram, the rules were clear. You have to wake up at 4am for a meditation, following by an asana practice and pranayama, breakfast at 8h, lunch at 13h, karma yoga at 16h, afternoon practice at 18h, dinner at 20h, going to bed at 22h. Always the same, always precise.
In the beginning my mind wanted to scream and run away, but gradually my body was adapting to this rhythm and started to enjoy it. I began to notice the changes in sensations I was feeling in my body mind, first very subtle and gradually more noticeable.
I realized that instead of thinking of routine as some repetitive tasks I have to do, I was thinking about the rhythm that my body loves to dance to and was feeling so naturally in tune. This was helping my body mind to relax and become free. Free of thinking about future, free of thinking about what could happen next, but being free in that well know space and time where I feel safe and comfortable the way I am.
SILENCE AND STILLNESS – Adrian Russi
Silence is not simply the absence of noises and sounds, silence is something of its own.Stillness in dance is not simply the absence of movement