Living Yoga

I gave a presentation today on Yoga and Meditation. My notes included a little history of yoga, the benefits of a physical practice and of a seated meditation, and so forth - just the basics.  What came out as I began speaking was much more authentic than that.  Behind the rows of chairs where the audience sat, I had spread out yoga mats. As people began filtering in the room, I sensed hesitation about what on earth I was going to make them do. Yoga, the physical practice that Westerners think of anyway, is intimidating to many.  "I can't do yoga, I'm not flexible...I'm not strong enough..."is often how people react to yoga.  People often stay away from classes because they are worried that everyone else is looking at them, judging them.  Truthfully, this is one of the last places you will find judgement.  This is where you have permission, where you are encouraged, to let down your guard.  To drop your expectations and to simply Be.

The truth is, everyone can do yoga.  If you exist, you can do yoga.  It is our natural state.  I came across this quote recently: "True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but about the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed, it is to be lived." Living your yoga is not about being able to do the perfect Warrior II pose, or being able to stand on your hands and touch your feet to your head.  Its about finding unity within our mind, body, and spirit.  The asanas, the poses of a physical yoga practice, are intended to prepare our body for meditation.  Meditation is where we find stillness.  Its where we release pain, suffering, expectations, stress, worry, and everything else that doesn't serve us.  Its a place where we can just Be.

I told my audience this morning, "The less time you think have to meditate each day, the longer you should meditate each day.  If you don't have time for even 5 minutes of sitting and doing and thinking of nothing, then do it for 10 minutes."

We ended with a brief guided meditation on gratefulness.  And later, as I was doing some spring cleaning back at home, I began to think about all of the things in my life for which I'm grateful. Here is my list.  Share your own if you wish...

• The long winter...without it, I wouldn't appreciate the beauty and relief from cold that a Spring day like today brings.
• Constantly picking up toys and my husband's clothes, wiping handprints from the windows, and cleaning dog hair and drool off of every surface in the house...I never had those chores before I had a family, and so, I'm grateful for them.  
• Running injuries...they've made me aware of when I need to stop or slow down, in more ways than one.
• I'm grateful for every experience that has lead me to this moment.  Each one has been exactly what I needed to be where I am now.  
• Living yoga and sharing it with others...I see how yoga translates into my life every single day. We are hungry for this. We want guidance, peace, and stillness. When I can give that to someone, I am grateful.

~Namaste