Accept and Embrace |
To keep your body healthy, you must keep it strong, active and flexible. A daily yoga practice can help you do that. Accept your limitations, but check in with your body often--are those limitations still active? Some may come from fear, others from old habits. Embrace a practice that works for you. Your goal should be to find a practice that brings your body comfort and ease while also challenging it. |
The second century sage Patanjali, codifier of the Yoga Sutra, says that we each have our own limitations and inclinations. For example, how we react to a difficult pose in class may mirror how we deal with other frustrations in life. He encourages us to explore the opposite feeling: instead of immediately reacting, he suggests moving toward patience. |
On the Mat. Using exhalations, slowly move into a pose that you find difficult. Notice not only how you feel pshyically but also the emotions that surface. |
 Virabhadrasana III (Warrior III) |
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Off the Mat. Accept your inclination to react (with anger or frustration, for example), but before giving in, stop for a moment. Slowly breathe into and out of your heart and ask yourself whether what you are about to do will hinder or enhance your ability to see clearly, to be more fully human. Will you be happier or suffer more because of your action? Will others be happier or suffer more because of your action? |
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~ Patricia Walden |
excerpted from "2010 Yoga Planner" |
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The Winter Blahs |