The Gift of Giving

The last thing I wanted to do this morning was get out of bed at an early hour to get ready for yoga, but it was the last day of my first teacher training apprenticeship and people were expecting me to be there and I knew I needed to be there. So, despite the urge to snuggle back under my covers for another hour or two of sleep, I got out of bed and ready for class.

To be completely honest I didn't want to deal with other people this morning. It had been a late night and I wasn't in a giving mood, however, somewhere inside I knew that's exactly what I needed.

I've always loved picking out the perfect gift and watching the person's reaction. It's something that has always given me such pleasure. But this morning spending time with other yogis and yoginis helping them find their first urdhva dhanurasana (wheel pose) or dolphin, reminded me that giving is so much more than finding the perfect gift or material possession. Taking time to share your knowledge with others, lending a thoughtful ear, and enveloping a friend in a hug are the ultimate gifts. I was lucky enough this morning to experience all of these things and I'm so happy I listened to that inner voice that told me to wake up and get to yoga. More times than not that voice (probably my gut?) is right and when I follow it, I find myself in a much better place.

Fostering Ahimsa in our Daily Lives

Ahimsa is the first of the five yamas (and probably the most well-known) and is the subject of Patanajali's Yoga Sutra, 2.35: 'As a Yogi becomes firmly grounded in non-injury (ahimsa), other people who come near will naturally lose any feelings of hostility.' In his sutra, Patanjali challenges us to cultivate not only non-violent actions, but also, more importantly, non-violent thoughts as essentially one who harbors negative thoughts tends towards negative actions, so if we are able to harness our thoughts, turning negative into positive, we take a pivotal step in cultivating ahimsa.

In order to achieve the latter part of Patanjali's sutra, '...other people who come near will naturally lose any feelings of hostility', we have to first create non-violent thoughts about and actions towards ourselves. This is my greatest challenge as I know I am my own toughest critic. A great place for me to start letting go of negative judgment of myself is on my yoga mat. I'm competitive by nature but my yoga practice has taught me to respect my body and where it can take me on a daily basis. One day may be completely different from the next and I've grown to accept that fact and I am a firm believer, that because of this, it's taken my practice to a whole new level.

To take this a step further, it means I am aware of how my body feels in each pose. I can distinguish between helpful discomfort and painful, negative discomfort. The former helps me to deepen and strengthen each pose; whereas the latter doesn't serve me in any way. When I find myself experiencing the latter, I need to be okay with giving up the painful fight and find a modification that serves me. I'm not saying yoga shouldn't be challenging, but it definitely shouldn't be painful. By listening to my body and responding respectfully, I find myself able to achieve more challenging poses while still remaining true to my intentions and maintaining a positive mind.

This isn't to say I'm free of all negative thoughts; negative thoughts still creep in once in awhile, but I've learned to acknowledge them and I challenge myself to turn them inside out on a regular basis. It might be pulling out of a pose to better serve my body and mind; it might be that I need to return to my breath; or it might be that I need to remember my strength and believe in myself each step of the way. And it's my hope that as I strive to foster positive thoughts on a daily basis, I am making this tiny piece of the world I touch a better place.

Welcome!

I'm still working out my intention for this site but I hope it becomes a place to share ideas for achieving peace, love and ananda, three things I try to cultivate on a daily basis in my life. Peace within and without, love for myself and for others, and ananda or bliss, which I think is achieved when you have peace and love in your life.

My yoga practice has played a leading role in helping me find these things in my life and I imagine my practice and what I learn from it on a daily basis will be a common thread throughout these pages.