Be Kind To Yourself |
Patanjali's Yoga Sutra discusses eight limbs or stages of yoga:
Among the five yamas, the first is ahimsa, or nonharming, and is the foundation of all yoga practice and all life. Much more subtle than nonviolence, ahimsa reminds us to be kind and gentle, physically and emotionally. Imagine that everyone and everything that exists is sacred and forever entwined. To see the divinity in all things allows you to approach all of life with reverence, compassion and loving attention. Vow to think with your heart instead of your head and you cannot go wrong. Of course, you must practice ahimsa toward yourself as well, sometimes ironically the hardest task of all. Become best friends with your body. The more you can do this for yourself, the more you can treat others with the same care. |
On the Mat. Notice the judgments that arise as you practice. Do you mentally beat yourself up when you lose your balance or congratulate yourself when you don't? Do you favor the hip that is more open or deride the tight shoulder as "the bad one"? Try meeting your challenges (tight hamstrings, difficulty balancing) with lighthearted encouragement and plenty of healing breath. |
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Off the Mat. Cultivate peacefulness by setting an example through your actions. Give back to your community by joining causes that promote peace and understanding, working with environmental groups, or volunteering to help those who have been victims of abuse or violence. |
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~ Jack Kornfield |
excerpted from "2010 Yoga Planner" |
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The Winter Blahs |