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Yoga Practice Mirrors Life

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South American Sunset

Photo Attributed to Thenix

The way you move through your yoga practice is a bang-on reflection of the way you move through life. I realized that right at the beginning of my yoga journey. Some of my examples are below. Maybe you might see a reflection of those examples in your own life. The first step to any journey is realizing there needs to be a change. Once you become more aware of the issue that you are facing, the next time it comes up for you, you will be able to deal with it in a saner manner. In a manner that results in positive, fulfilling energy, rather than destitute misery.

In yoga practice, I run from challenging poses, choosing to do the modified versions, consoling myself with the fact that I am ensuring I do not get injured. In life, I run from challenges, by literally running away from confrontations, arguments, discussions, and I console myself by playing the victim card.

In yoga practice, I close my eyes when I am transitioning from one yoga pose to another. In life, I pretend change isn’t happening, by closing my eyes to it, and pretending everything is exactly the same, realizing too late that things have changed, and I haven’t changed with it, having to adjust painfully.

In yoga practice, I sometimes do not listen to what the teacher is telling me, because I am too busy making up stories in my head, spending time thinking over what I have to do, or bringing my ego into it, thinking I know better than the other person. In life, I do the same, not listening to the advice of colleagues, parents, or others. Going through the challenging situations I face thinking I can do it on my own, with the few tools I have, bringing my ego into it and thinking I am better than others.

In yoga practice, I do not take the time to rest even when I am sick, on my period, or need to take a slower practice. I plough through the poses, pushing myself further than I need to, aggravating injury that I know exists, by pushing my body into random patterns, ignoring the signals from my body that it needs to rest. In life, I push myself and feel guilty for sleeping or resting even when my body needs it really badly. I get sick, do not allow my body to get better, get to the worst point possible, before I realize I need to stop and rest.

Do you see similar patterns in your life? There are a hundred ways we lie to ourselves. But your yoga practice if observed impartially can help you figure out how you do things in life. Use the teachings of the yoga practice to moderate your life accordingly.

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Practice isn’t Glamorous

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Photo attributed to flickr user naturalturn

When a lot of us look at successful people, in media or business, or wherever else it might be, we are only looking at the end result. We envy them, saying, they are lucky, they have connections, they were able to manipulate the circumstances to their favour, etc. We do not see the thousands of hours of sweat, blood, and hard work that went into the final successful moment.

The same thing occurs with yoga practice. We are looking at those beautiful yoga-toned bodies, able to manipulate themselves into shapes and sizes that are never imagined. We think, we wish to be there right now. We do not want to go through years of practice. The end result is glamorous, but the practice itself is never so.

While we practice, while we toil and turn, twist and bend, on the yoga mat, day in and day out, we do not notice the difference perceptibly. The differences are subtle from one day to the next. You might even feel that one day you’ve gone backward in your practice, rather than forward. You haven’t made any progress towards your goal, you feel shame, and you wish to give up.

Yoga practice, unlike any other physical practice, is more about the effect of it on your mind rather than your body. Even if you do not notice your physical body getting more flexible or toned, you will definitely notice the effects of it on your mental state. You will feel more awareness, more open, more curious, more relaxed, more of everything. You will notice more, and speak less. You will dance more, and buy less. You will sing more, and anger less.

The practice of yoga might not be glamorous, especially in hot yoga, where your hair is frizzed up from the humidity, your beautiful yoga outfits drip with unsightly sweat, and you are not at your best. But the results, slow, but fruitful, will be glamorous and worth it in the end.

Meditating for 8 months now

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Photo attributed to flickr user AlphaTangoBravo

I was thinking about it today and I realized that I have been meditating for 8 months now. I have been meditating for 8 months straight through, without any breaks, 3-5 days a week, 30 minutes each, for eight months.

Wow! I can’t believe it. I am actually a wee bit impressed with myself right now. Of course, this is just the beginning, but just by meditating every day, I feel like I have changed my life, my outlook, and my spirit.

I feel like a changed person and I have a changed life. I have so much more in my life than I did eight months ago. I am in a satisfied relationship that I wasn’t eight months ago, I have made great strides towards melting down my debt, I have gotten really, really fit and am improving my yoga practice all the time, and I have met an amazing group of positive, unique friends.

But it isn’t just the outward changes that I look towards. I am looking inwards, and I do not see cobwebs and dark corners with shadows lurking around in my mind anymore. I see bright light, clean spaces, and I see happiness. In all of its shapes and forms. Sometimes I am ecstatically happy, sometimes I am just content, sometimes I am happy to be alive, sometimes I am cruising.

There are myriad other changes that I am sure I am not even aware of, but are there just the same.

Maybe I should ask the people who are around me about it.

How long has your meditation practice been going on for? How has it affected you?