Living Your Yoga
January 23, 2007I’ve heard that phrase many times from yoga teachers. Often it is said in the context of encouraging you to practice the yamas or niyamas, such as ahimsa (non-harming) or satya (truthfulness). I’m finding that this month, as I’m practicing yoga every day, that “living my yoga” is quite different from a conscious attempt to cultivate a certain value or virtue. It’s more that the feelings that arise when I practice are starting to seep over into everyday life. Since I’ve been practicing consistently, I find that the peace of the mat is starting to linger longer as I go about my day. (It’s not there 24/7, but it is lasting longer!) I find myself breathing more deliberately, moving with more awareness. I’m friendlier with strangers, more patient with my children. It’s as though I am using my mind and body, in yoga, as an experimental laboratory whose results are played out in daily life.
Has anyone else noticed this? How are you living your yoga?
Judith Lasater has a book called “Living Your Yoga” which I really like.
I’m also finding that daily practice has me in the “yoga” state of mind more often in the day. At least I know when I’m NOT in it, I should say. Sometimes I realize that I’m too much in the future and not being present in my life.
I’m so grateful for this opportunity to experience what a daily yoga practice is like. I don’t know if I would have ever reached exactly this place without the challenge and it’s so powerful for me.
THANK YOU, Yogamum!!!!!
after coming off a particularly bad month of december, january has seemed a little more hopeful, and i do believe that keeping up with the daily practice has contributed to it.
(i did miss one day, when my mom came and kidnapped me for a day of eating and movies, but that’s good for the soul too.)
another thank you, yogamum!
Yes thank you Yogamum! I too understand and experience a lot of things with this all month practice.
As I said in my blog a few days ago, I feel more peacefull with myself and the world too. And I live in the present even it is quite challenging with our next move to San Francisco.
It is a beautiful experience.
my attitude on this changes from day to day – and i’m ok with that. maybe that’s the biggest change (and the biggest challenge) – to be aware of and comfortable with the nuanced shifts of body and mind and environment that happen from moment to moment. To release attachment to what used to be, appreciate what is, and accept what comes next.
And yeah, thanks for this, YM. You da bomb. (Not, like, a violent bomb or anything, more like those chocolate truffles they call “bombes” because there’s so much yummy dark chocolate in the middle that it hits you like a… well, like a bomb. but in a good way.)
oh tarNAtion now i’m thinking about chocolate again.
LOL, Andi, you always bring it back around to chocolate…
I quite like the thought of myself as Da Bombe. Like, on the outside, I’m all sweet goodness, and on the inside there’s an unexpected richness and depth. Yeah, I do like that image!
I find that some days yoga practice puts me in a peaceful state that I carry with me through my day, and other days it evokes strong emotions that I need time to deal with, but along with this comes a clarity of what I’m doing in my daily life (awareness). Awakening is a long and sometimes difficult process, but I’m so thankful to be on this path. It fits me so much better than other things (religions) I have tried in my life.