Now Begins the Study of Yoga

I have practiced yoga for many years, and taught the past nine years at Panacea.  What drew me to this practice was not only the wonderful way my body felt, but also how it gave me a sense of peace and well-being afterwords.  I realized that this is not just physical exercise, it is a life practice which happens both on and off the yoga mat. 

The title of this post, Now Begins the Study of Yoga, is a translation of the first of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (which have been a source of information about what yoga is for thousands of years).  This sutra captured my attention the first time I read it.  Now, it tells me that I must be present, and that in this present moment I will also need to put forth the right effort to learn.  I have found this sutra applicable to each day of my life:  be present and put forth my best effort, no matter what I am doing.  As my mission is to provide ways we can all incorporate this ancient practice into our lives, this sutra is a great way to begin.  Can you think of any situation in your life in which being present and putting forth your best effort wouldn’t be good to do?

So with the beginning of this new year, consider this resolution:  make the effort to be present as much as possible in 2013.  Remember how to really listen to another without planning what you will say in response.  You can then answer what was actually said, rather than what you thought might be said.  Try having a meal with someone without talking, texting, facebooking, or twittering with someone else.  Staying present is easier when we are on our mat, doing our asanas, or physical postures of yoga, because our body is then involved (just try to not be present during say, revolved half-moon and see what happens!).  Now let us begin the harder work of doing this off the mat as well.

Buddha stated, “The past is no longer here, the future is not there yet; there is only one moment in which life is available and that is the present moment”.

Namaste and Happy New Year!