Yoga
Namaste all,
Yoga Monday 13th February click link to view reel.
We will continue to work with the Warrior Group to assist in our journey towards ourselves in addition to strengthening the body and mind.
The whole journey is one of allowing a deeper insight and investigation into our interaction with gravity, our range of motion, the limitations of bone length, ligament restriction, tightness of muscles and tendons, connection to our centre of being – the abdominals, all to avail ourselves of a deeper sense of balance, mindful connection, awareness and responsibility to distribute effort and sensation evenly through the body. In short to know our bodies and understand why we can do and be where we are in any given moment and that the journey is ongoing.
As always, be mindful, be in the present moment as the present moment is the only moment we have – and in each of those moments we should nurture the self and offer kindness and compassion to the self both on and off the mat.
The notion of kindness to the self often makes us feel both selfish or self centered and many will say they are too busy looking after others or that to put the self first is big headed or self indulgent.
In truth, if we do not nourish ourselves with kindness and compassion, if we cannot extend that affection towards ourselves then how can we extend it to all others in a genuine way?
What part of our conditioning makes us feel that we are less than others and deserve less than we give to others? The kindness and compassion we offer to others means that we do not judge them, we accept them, we listen, we are there when they need us in support and yet this wise and affectionate attention is the attention we find most difficult to extend to our own being – we judge ourselves where we do not judge others, we say unkind things to ourselves where we do not to others and we constantly want to change who we are to fit in with others perception of us.
It is a difficult task to learn to like, love and have wise and affectionate attention to the self and it is something we can practise every day through our mindfulness practice. But I don’t have time to practice Mindfulness everyday if what the mind will protest! I can’t meditate my mind wanders, I don’t have the time – and so on and so forth with protestations.
Can we spend a moment each day being aware of the breath just for perhaps 5 conscious breaths? Then we become conscious of the breath when we are making a cup of tea? Drinking a cup of tea? Cleaning the bathroom? Taking a shower? Brushing our teeth? And can we be aware of the breath through all or any of those daily activities?
We may have to practise but when we do even if it is only for just a moment; that is meditation; that is heartfelt awareness of the self; that is compassion and kindness to the self.
Just a few moments each day that connects us to ourselves – and that is enough in the beginning.
Shanti Om
Sue x
Jon Kabat Zin 5min meditation click link to listen to Jon Kabat Zinn 5 minute meditation on loving kindness to the Self!