yoga

“Look past your thoughts, so you may drink the pure nectar of This Moment.”

- Rumi

Yogic thought purports the importance of being mindfully in the present moment, whether in action or in thought. This is a constant struggle in life, practicing presence. Often we hear phrases like “live in the moment,” “be in the present,” and “do it now.” While in a yoga practice, we “breathe into the present moment,” or hear some semblance of: “leave your day at the door, and bring your heart to the mat.”

The other day, a monk from my yoga and meditation group posted a Facebook live video about remaining unperturbed in the face of external stimuli. His comment struck me primarily because I’m not unperturbed. I’m disturbed by every little thing. When the news is bad, I feel bad. When the news is good, I feel good. My mood of late seems to be tied to what’s going on in the world. This is not how I want to live.

Want to be a happier person on the whole? Try making your mornings more positive, one step at a time, to get rid of the negativity first. The unhappiness will find its own way out soon…

If you practice yoga, you’ve probably noticed that yoga twists feel very rejuvenating. If you haven’t tried a yoga twist, you may want to check out Yoga Journal’s overview of twisting poses. Much like the motion of wringing out a towel, they compress and then release the muscles and organs of our body and leave us feeling cleansed and looser. Twists can be completed standing, seated or even while lying down.

I don’t want to “adult” right now. By that I mean I don’t want to be responsible, I don’t want to run any errands, I don’t want to show up and engage in life. What’s interesting is I don’t want to go somewhere else; I don’t want to swim with dolphins in Maui, for instance. I want to withdraw completely. In yoga, the term for withdrawal is pratyáhára.

In yogic philosophy, the first two limbs of Patanjali’s eightfold path outline the yamas and the niyamas – together, a code of ethics for how to be in the world. As few things are in yogic thought, the appearance of the yamas and nimayas as the first and second of the eight limbs of Raja yoga is not haphazard. These two sets of five restraints and five observances form the foundation of the yogic path to samadhi, or divine union and enlightenment.

Contrary to what most of mainstream media portrays, flexibility is not just for young gymnasts, athletes, and people who practice yoga. It is for everyone who wants and chooses to be healthy. When we are flexible, it allows our bodies to move with more ease and without overstressing muscles.

Have you found yourself rushing to a yoga class? Or perhaps you have found yourself full-on resisting going to yoga, or putting off practicing at home? Oh yes, I have come up with all the excuses. I don’t have time; I have to do X instead; I’m sore; I practiced yesterday; I just ate; I’m too full; It’s selfish right now; My house is messy; My bike has a flat tire; I can’t find my mat; I have to get gas; I’ll be late; I’m already late…sound familiar?

As one of the most important and powerful practices in all of yoga, the Moola Bandha lock, when practiced regularly, can make you great and masterful in the full spectrum of your life. How? Truth is, by lifting and engaging the perineum and bringing attention to the root of your being you are solidifying and strengthening your core essence. And this is key to pretty much everything.

For many of us, death is not something we think about until someone close to us passes. We may find ourselves ill-equipped to handle the intense emotions that come with losing someone we love. We may not want to think about death as it could make us upset or frightened, yet it is the people who reflect upon dying that find both a deep gratitude for being alive and an urgency to focus on what matters most in this life.