What are you working on, or towards in your life? What are your goals and dreams?
In our society, to achieve what you want in life it often means you move and strive in one direction. Unfortunately, if you approach your yoga this way you end up getting stuck, or even worse, injured. If you come to my class you’ll often hear me say, “yoga is two directions.”
My definition of yoga is; “the harmonious integration of two opposite actions or energies.” In the physical practice, this means to first connect to what is steady and stable. Once you are established in your own center and connected to the earth via the foundation of the pose, you move toward your edge of the shape. Then the pose becomes your pose, a pose you own, not a shape you saw on social media or what the person on the mat next to you is doing.
Practicing in this way you embody the bigger purpose of yoga; to establish your awareness in the steady, unchanging nature of your Self.
Like the poses of yoga, life will push and pull you in many directions. You will get thrown off your center. You will have highs and lows. In the words of my wise teacher, Dr. Douglas Brooks, “life is never not the thing that is happening to you now.”That thing going on, that challenge, that triumph, that drama, that IS your life.
The yoga then becomes how you engage with it, how you respond, and how you rebound from the highs and lows. It is remembering that there is a part of you that is steady and unchanging, even amongst all the chaos.
So back to your goals. Here is how you apply the wisdom of yoga to the things you want to achieve in your personal and professional life:
• Make sure you are authentic in both your relationships and your endeavors.
• Get clear that you are working toward the things that you value, believe in, and are passionate about.
• Establish yourself in the skills and virtues that will help you achieve your dreams and move forward from there.
Thanks for intresting post!
I like to think like this … Having a good teacher and community is invaluable, but actual growth comes only independently. In yoga, “home practice” is a baby step in this direction. – Waheguru!
Thank you Stacey for the article, very informative post. Definitely something to remember. Love it!
lovely blog, very good post for me i am yoga trainer in delhi, keep it up.