On Ego

Sutra 1.2, Yoga Cittavrtti Nradhah:  Yoga is the cessation of the movements in the consciousness.
In yoga philosophy, Citta is consciousness and has three parts:

• Mind (manas)
• Ego (ahamkara)
• Intelligence (buddhi)

Mind is  primarily our memories and the integration of our senses. It’s cleverness.  Mind is constantly moving… “thinking”.  It is taking data from our senses (vision, hearing, taste, touch, and smell) and evaluating and storing information.
Ego is our “I” quality or small self. It is our identity.  It includes all of the labels that we often use to identify ourselves: Our home, car, job, friends, history, our name, height, weight, Facebook page, etc. When we say “I am”… it is our ego talking.  It is what knows us separate from others.
Iyengar, in Light on Life, uses an example of a light bulb where the filament represents our ego. Because it glows with light, it proclaims itself to be the light’s source.  In reality, the light is powered by a deeper source that we cannot see and that will exist long after the filament has burnt out.
Intelligence is wisdom. It is what discriminates between good and evil, right and wrong. It is NOT thinking or cleverness.  Intelligence is the faculty that can break us of bad habits… if we can quiet the mind and ego.
Mind and Ego resist change. To quote Iyengar: "They are a holding pattern of behavior, rooted in the experiences of the past. Our Ego is the running total of all that has happened up until now." Ego loves the past. It fears the unknown. It fears the future. This is purposeful; the mind and ego use our past as a guidebook for survival. What's worked for us in the past should work in the future.
As we do our asanas, our goal is to not let our ego or mind interfere. What does this mean?
With regard to our mind, we try to stop the chatter. Focus our attention internally, not on the tasks of the day. Focusing on our breath and being present in the pose. Use the breath like a musical instrument, providing rhythm to your practice.
With regard to our ego, we should seek only to do the asana; we should not allow our asanas to define us.  We resist competing with our neighbors and internally. It is not about getting deeper into a pose or riding the edge or comparing the pose today to how we did it yesterday. It’s okay to challenge ourselves; however, It is about doing what is best for us today, given our current emotional and physical health.
As you do your asanas in a class, see if you can remove the ego and quiet the mind. Keep your focus on breath and alignment. Remove the struggle from your asana. Listen to your body. Keep your gaze inward. Make your practice a meditative experience.