Who needs a New Year when you have Yoga?
Never been a fan of “New Years” resolutions. I don’t believe in forcing my self to do anything. When I am ready, and truly have the desire to manifest something in my life it will present itself and all its opportunity along with it. This has been a personal truth. For me yoga is the Union with the divine self. All of us possess potential beyond our imaginations. When I starting practicing yoga, of course I had to put forth a physical effort, and keep reminding my self to breath, stay present. The teacher constantly repeating during class, cues, words, inspiration to continue . . . But in total truth it was effortless, because I had chosen to come, to participate.
There are many systems of yoga, people who claim the path to enlightenment, ect… as I see it; it’s all just yoga to me. Humility, an open heart, an open mind, is how I love to practice the sacred study of yoga, the sacred study of self and the sacred study of God. Some call it Body, Mind, Spirit, others call it the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. I call it our divine nature.
To experience the divine in everything is my best yoga practice, all year, each month, every week, daily, moment by moment. This is yoga to me. At no point must I walk in a class and put a mat down, even though I still do enjoy this time. The kind of yoga I love to practice is in each step, with every word I speak, and every breath I take.
When I am in a moment and I am angry and or if poorly chosen words pour out of my mouth, I see them with awareness. Watching the self interact in this way has become yoga. When I love some one so deeply and fully, observing self contribute energy to another person has become yoga. As I teach a class of students, the self emerges into service, this has become yoga. Playing with my children and being present in the essence of play becomes the yoga.
Instead of resolutions, promises, I do yoga, practicing more than just awareness, but participating in life and all its consciousness. We are truly all divine.
Yoga Practice
Begin each day before you get out of bed with silence. Become of aware of how you feel, what you are thinking, no judgment, and simple awareness.
As you go through your morning routine notice if you are simply moving through it, or are you participating in it. Have you chosen to be a part of your own life?
Notice if you’re routine is for-filing, satisfying, or just a chore. How does your breakfast taste? Are you dehydrated when you wake up? Do you fill your thirst with water? Coffee? How does it feel?
Begin focusing on each activity in the morning and then throughout your day and ask the self how I can participate in my life to my fullest potential. How does your clothing feel on your body, the air smell around your face, are you able to seek out beautiful things in your immediate scenery.
The more we practice participation in our own lives, the easier it becomes. Even if it takes a year, months, days, and moments, begin each day again.
Namaste’ ~MJ
Yoga is not an ancient myth buried in oblivion. It is the most valuable inheritance of the present. It is the essential need of today and the culture of tomorrow.
–Swami Satyananda Saraswatiis
