Magazine rack …here at a certain college town. I could be here for hours just reading … while flipping through the pages, I was filled with gratitude that nothing I read was all that new or surprising. Rather more and more reaffirming and validating. Articles especially in health and fitness related magazines reinforced my conviction as to the efficacy of our yoga practice supporting our health, physically – mentally – emotionally- spiritually.
Feel it was timely that I completed a certification program called “Foundation in Mindfulness” recently . It’s basically YOGA but secular semantics to appeal to the broader audience. I still have a neighbor who would be so helped by yoga but she refuses because she says it’s “Hindu” and she’s not into religion. What ????!!! So like … um … what? Could not believe my ears but there are people who think it’s some religion … I’d say it’s more a philosophy or … science … and art. Or it can be just about fitness – why not? Anyway – at this point, bunch of monkeys are jumping from vine to vine in my mind now – back to this thought: It’s empowering to know how to better manage our energies and regulate and balance our overthinking mind.
Studies have shown how you start off the morning with freshness and clarity is the key to joyful living. That morning ritual of gentle luscious hatha yoga or if need be, dial up to the sweaty highly solar practice, whichever that integrates your mindful practice sets the tone for the rest of the day. To live with intention, a purpose, no matter how small, makes us a happier empathetic human being.
With increased awareness of each soothing breath (Ujai or not), gently unravel the knots, smooth out the kinks, soften the tightness, stiffness with an intention to live a life of more flexibility, suppleness, and … joy that comes with such lightness of being.
