April 2026 week 1
I don’t chase what’s meant for me. I clear the blocks and let it flow
Happy April, Happy Spring, Happy Easter and Happy Passover….all lead to the theme of renewal and hope. Keeping this holiday weekend writing short, sweet and to the point.
Our classes this week prompted us to self compassion in our practice and in our self reflection and our intention this month is: I am not chasing what’s meant for me. I clear the blocks and let it flow.
So with compassionate awareness lets use this month to go through the blocks Patanjali outlined last month in Sutra 1.30 (I reiterated these below). Are you blocked in anyway right now coming off the winter and heading into springtime? Next month our cleanse and our practices will help us move out the Ama (undigested food, emotions or situations) that may be present because of our blocks, but first this month we will stay in the work of identifying and being compassionate toward ourselves.
Yoga Sutra 1.30 from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali explains why the mind loses focus or struggles in meditation and in life. In states that there are nine common obstacles that disturb the mind and block inner peace, clarity, emotional balance (which is always a balancing act) and meditation.
Here are the 9 Obstacles:
1.Illness (Vyādhi) - Physical sickness or poor health distracts the mind.
2.Mental dullness (Styāna) - Lack of mental energy or inspiration.
3.Doubt (Saṁśaya) - Questioning yourself, the practice, or whether progress is possible.
4.Carelessness / lack of awareness (Pramāda) - Knowing what helps but not doing it consistently.
5.Laziness (Ālasya) - Low physical or mental effort.
6.Over-indulgence / distraction (Avirati) - Being pulled outward by sensory pleasures.
7.False perception (Bhrānti-darśana) - Misunderstanding reality or spiritual experiences.
This is when we mistake temporary feelings for true insight.
8.Lack of progress (Alabdha-bhūmikatva) - Feeling stuck despite effort.
9.Instability (Anavasthitatva) - Gaining progress but not maintaining it.
So lets remember that the mind naturally encounters obstacles — this is normal, not failure. And if Patanjali spent all of this time writing and teaching about the fluctuations in the mind hundreds of years ago, I would say we are in good company as we try to untangle of squirrelly minds.