Ishvara Pranidhana

Alicia J. Valentyn
Apr 22, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Apr 23, 2020

Welcome to my Blog page.

If you’re just tuning into my writings you’ll discover that, thus far, I’ve written my insights on Patañjali’s foundational teachings -

(the 1st and 2nd Limbs, known as the Yamas and Niyamas of the Eight-Limb Path of Yoga).

One of my yoga teachers once said, “Yoga is a Practice. Life is a Practice.”

With strong conviction, I feel my best when I ‘Practice’ intertwining all of Patañjali’s Eight-Limbs into my daily life.

In this Blog; Let’s practice visiting Patañjali’s Second Limb or Niyamas (which entails five sub principles). Today, we pause at the fifth Niyama - Ishvara Pranidhana.

Back in 1987 I wasn’t aware of Patañjali’s ancient yogic teachings. Nor did I have a daily yoga practice. Like most people I spent each day trying to multi-task. My busy mind told me that I wasn’t enough and I wasn’t doing enough. I worked hard and worked out physically (extremely hard). Those were the days that I first applied for a position as a Recruit Firefighter for a city Fire Department.

One night after teaching a high impact aerobics class at the gym my busy, 18 year old mind, was racing. While driving my parents car home another vehicle turned out in front of me. I don’t remember the car accident but when I woke up a couple of days later, in the trauma hospital, the doctors told me that they were surprised I had survived my injuries.

Back then I occasionally took the time to attend church. But now since I was stuck in the hospital I didn’t have much more to do with my time except to pray.

I recall, while in the hospital, the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. E. Katz, (performed my right sided patella-ectomy) had advised me to use the therapeutic putty in my left hand. Also, my Neurosurgeon, Dr. K. Mannwaring kept an eye on my right-sided subdural hematoma. Little did I realize that each time I used my right hand to help my left hand squeeze the putty I took this opportunity to PRAY. In these moments I was connecting to God.

My prayers, while awake, most likely were; ‘Lord help me to become free of pain, let me be able to move my left side again, help to walk and someday please let me be able to sit outside underneath a tree.’

For many days I laid in the hospital, almost 30 days to be exact and had a pity party - ‘Poor ol‘ me I’ll never be able to walk again, I’ll never obtain a position as a firefighter, my life sucks, I don’t like myself and I hate myself.’

Praying to God helped me rise up out of my state of depression. Having faith in something much greater than little ol‘ me was my guiding light. My God/Spirit/Truth/Light/Nature gifted me the ability to eventually thrive again in the world.

Today I realize that the traumatic car accident was my Guru.

NOTE: you can learn more about my life - in my upcoming memoir - Apple In My Truck (1973-2014).

In between the visit from a Catholic priest and my mom bringing the letter, from the city fire department, which read: Congratulations! You Passed the Written - You’re Invited to take the Physical Agility Test, I felt a flicker of hope buried down beneath my state of depression.

NOTE: almost ten years after my traumatic car accident - in 1997 - I was hired on full-time as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Daisy Mountain Fire District.

I Thank the medical staff, physical and occupational therapists, family and God for encouraging me to believe and not give up.

Today more than ever my soul craves a connection to my highest Truth -God/Spirit/Truth/Light/Nature. Currently, as a writer and author I do take the time to sit under trees to meditate. Also, I find myself going out in nature to move through a yoga practice with my soulmate George.

Yesterday, as I walked our Cindy (Spirit canine) she helped me to remember to slow down, stop and smell the flowers. I made sure to stop, takeoff my socks and shoes and open my heart up to a tree. I felt grounded and connected to God/Spirit/Truth/Light/Nature. I was standing barefoot in the present moment.

George and I enjoy walking the pups and stopping to admire the inner beauty/being of the many flowers that line the sidewalks here in Portland.