I have a client who is ADHD and says he may be bi-polar. When he does yoga (candlelight), he gets into a state where he says “he’s going a mile a minute both in his mind and body” and “that things can’t move as quickly as his mind is thinking” he gets into mode where he gets lots done but feels this isn’t the type of state he wants to be in from Yoga. Do you have any insight on this?

Thank you. – C

shakti’s response is below in red.

Hello C

The rhythm of the mind affects the rhythm of the nervous system and this affects the breath. There is no way that your mind and nervous system are speeding while your breath remains calm and deep.
Fast mind and anxious nervous system belongs to the “fight or flight” nervous system, which switches the body and mind into emergency state. Calm and extended breath belongs to the parasympathetic nervous system that calms the mind and the body. So the two, the restless mind and the calm slow breath, can not dwell together, as each belongs to an opposite nervous system aspect.
From this, it is obvious, that if a restless mind affects the breath to become shallow and rapid, a deep and mindful breathing will affect the restless mind by slowing it down.

The only way to calm the mind and the nervous system is by breathing mindfully and slowly.

The one that masters his own breath masters his mind!

As a yoga teacher you should guide your restless student into a mindful and slow breath by teaching him ujaye and keep reminding him constantly, in class, to follow this specific breath until it becomes his second nature. You both will have to be patient, as in the beginning his mind will try to indicate the pace of his breath, but with a consistent practice that very much relies on your support as a teacher, by reminding him to breathe in ujaye, the restless mind will give up for the mindful calm breath to indicate the pace of his thoughts.

Beside this you should teach him anuloma viloma so he can do it on his own, every day, in the morning or before sleep.

Namaste
shakti

Finding a teacher is like finding a lover, where the first sensation you feel in you when meeting, is butterflies in your navel area and excitement in the heart center. The pupils get darker and the breath stops for a second. You are amused and maybe even a bit emotional. You feel like you are experiencing a long time dream that never really had a clear image to it but had very specific feelings that you are experiencing in this very moment again, only this time it is real. The only difference between meeting a lover and meeting a teacher is that in the first case the mind will interrupt the intuitive interaction by bringing up reasoning and logic into the dynamic. Reasoning and logic cannot exist between you and your teacher. You have to strip yourself of the need to make sense so your teacher can walk you into dimensions your mind could not even imagine. If you cannot let go of your mind and it’s bodyguard (ego) you won’t be able to stay with this teacher. She or he cannot be your teacher because they don’t have the power to burn your attachment to your possessions in the form of the things you think you know.

Love shakti

Knowing there is no future is the direction. The clarity that’s needed is the clarity of the higher self that experiences reality beyond time and space. Your direction is now. If it is now, it already happens. If it happens, there is no need to see it, but just experience it. But if your eyes are to the future, you cannot experience it at the moment.
Looking for your future direction is like sailing to the horizon following the sunset shimmering on the water. It may feel beautiful but you will never reach the horizon.
The question that should be asked is; how can we become our present ultimate expression?
And the answer is; by removing all things, behaviors and thoughts that shut down our experience of being complete.
Among them are:

Doubts

Fears

Attachments

Hesitations

Identifications

The need to follow the average mass consciousness

The need to understand

Love shakti

There is no path outside of you to follow. You are the path. Every time you place your foot down on the ground you mark your path every time you take off your foot of the ground your path fades away. Walking on the spiritual path is like walking on soft white sand. The character of your body’s weight, motion and pace will form each foot step mark in the sand. On the spiritual path your step marks are formed by your actions, words, thoughts, and intents.

Love shakti