Month of August issue … Time cover from 11 years ago – it’s been over a decade, and still, it does not seem to be in the mainstream.
In full knowledge that most people holding down a job or life, do not have the luxury of 60-90 minutes a day to practice yoga, to me, an “ideal” fitness plan would be, 1-3 times a week power yoga (an oxymoron…) or Vinyasa Flow-ish class OR mix in any exercise cardio/aerobics daily that pumps the heart and muscles, makes you sweat (that could be swimming, dancing, playing tennis, jogging/walking – whatever movement you enjoy); 1-3 times a week Yin yoga class to attend to the connective tissues and internal organ health; then finally round out with once a week Restorative yoga session as you are so deserving of a mini-spa retreat …(the last one, actually, Judith recommends daily …sigh… we should be so lucky:) Surely daily is the ultimate ideal… so realizing we are all busy but hope you get to take care of yourself so you can then take care of other matters better. Finding the time is the key; finding the right intentions, the salvation.
Sometimes, if that’s the intention, Yoga can be a form of meditation … a moving meditation … or in the case of yin and restorative yoga, Meditation while holding a yoga pose… if you are in that state of mind. Yoga was actually practiced with the intention to bring about that calm state of mind that allowed the yogis to engage in meditation. Otherwise, you might be snoring off when you feel so much peace and stillness, but with awareness – awash in consciousness – not passing out in exhaustion. After the physical portion of the practice, then came the ultimate objective – meditation. Yoga was the method employed, yoga provided the means to an end – which was to seek enlightenment. I know, because I used to think the same, for some of us, you are just totally miffed, “I rather be doing something!” than just this – I have things to do; I cannot be just doing this – I don’t have the time – I have to move – I have to get BUSY! Well, we’ve been trained to DO DO DO. So realize that you are actually “doing” a lot of good for yourself when you press the “refresh” button. You are still holding the poses benefiting you physically, while you are taken towards the meditative (not medicated) state of mind.
It does not need to be deep or profound – it doesn’t even have to delve into the spiritual aspect – just feeling lighter and better… just bringing back the smile – isn’t that good enough?
