Asana: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Happy Trading
The physical contortions many attribute to postures contained within the fourth limb of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga of asana will form strength, stamina, and flexibility, but they may also cause some degree of trepidation. Embarking on any new course we feel limited in participating in, whether it be fear of a physical or mental concern, may lead to procrastination and avoidance. Those of us with illness, injury, disease, fatigue, or other physical or mental impediment should consult their physician before introducing any new physical activity into their lives, and should stop if pain or discouraging discomfort arises.
Asana, Sanskrit meaning “to sit down,” will prove challenging to even the most physically adept. These postures will provide ample
Pincha Mayurasana: Feathered Peacock Pose
opportunities to observe the negative thought processes—which inevitably arise—and allow for the cultivation of more beneficial ones. Anger with an inability to touch our toes may give way to acceptance of our barriers; the success of a new physical challenge in the midst of a series of bad trades may lead to a return of confidence; or an injury generated by maintaining a posture to empress our instructor or classmates may instill a sense of modesty. Asana illuminates the way our physical structure guides us through our day, showing us the effects of our movement and physiological health upon our decisions, motivations, and perception.
Asana, as part of Patañjali’s Ashtanga Yoga, is essential to the Self-seeking yogic path. Practitioners focus on purifying the physical form to render it a hospitable environment for meditative practices. The body is used as an instrument to obtain knowledge of our subtle selves and, ultimately, embrace the non-dualistic state of consciousness: samadhi.
Many yogis use this approach to experience a long, healthy, and fulfilling life, rather than aiming for the immortal claims alluded to should they become enlightened by the yogic perspective. Whatever the initial intention, many justify the discipline and hard work needed to embark on such a journey with the possibility of putting an end to personal suffering. Few would argue against consciously acting without self-imposed limitations towards goals which promote a state of love, health, and prosperity, both in this life and the next. These goals may include material gain to ease the discomfort of poverty, but true happiness lies outside the bounds of a wealth based on possessions and titles of distinction.
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
The physical health of the yogi is not to interfere with the future limbs of yoga: study, concentration, meditation, and absorption. The aim is to disperse with any impure thoughts, emotions, behaviours, or systemic body action that may divert our attention to less harmonizing pursuits and further interfere in the realization of our true Self in samadhi.
Padmasana: Lotus Pose
Regardless of the motivation in beginning an asana practice–if the self to be realized is not considered to be outside of our own ego–the end result within the material world may be the same. As traders, yogis, athletes, or musicians, we all seek the facilitation of an unhindered focus on the task at hand without constrictive responses such as fear, anxiety, or physical pain. Most conditions may be alleviated through a steady and intensive yoga practice by eradicating any illusions of identifying our true selves, our soul, our primordial centre of consciousness with our physical selves and the suffering that accompanies this manifest form.
Patañjali’s purpose of asana may benefit the daily life of a trader. The focus on conditioning the body to allow for long hours in, Padmasana, or seated meditation in the lotus posture, may easily transfer to the marathon hours spent at a trading desk. Although the focus of our attention may be directed to different objects, the structure to obtain this absorption in process is the same. Whether we are easing the burden of an injury, illness, tension, or fatigue, asana tunes the systems, organs, and nerves to improve the health and concentration necessary for complete absorption in the markets.
The whole system is conditioned to allow for the free flow of creativity, spontaneity, and joy. We start to play rather than struggle when a technical skill is tested successfully in real-time conditions. If we are only operating on a desire to alleviate our physical suffering, then we will not be able to function as a whole. To realize this non-dualistic state of being, our outward direction should stream from our internal intention without interruption or delay. This mind-set cultivated through a hatha yoga practice is conducive to trading, or any other performance activity or creative process.
