We sit in meditation watching our breath, maybe repeating our mantra…
Sitting… breathing…
And at some moment unbeknownst till it happens,
Like a screen door occluding our view suddenly opens
Revealing the joyous outdoors clearly before us,
We enter bliss and stillness, our happy heart.
Out beyond these thoughts and feelings of right and wrong,
there is a quiet space
that meditation can carry us to….
At times when we are anxious, it’s a bit like driving with the brakes on.
Meditation, yoga, and pranayama can help us gradually ease up on the brake
letting up on our resistence.
We know life can, at times, have us feeling pulled in so many directions.
Yoga and meditation help to true us up.
Like a wobbly tire, the practices bring us more into balance amidst all the activity.
True this!
It’s easy to forget how precious life is.
The value of what you have is priceless–
each day an opportunity,
each breath….
Just being here
is that which we’ve been seeking.
We all too often overlook the most obvious.
What gives life “value?”
He/she that asks the question
is the answer.
“Again and again, I bow to my inner teacher.”
Your inner teacher may be the life force, the spirit, the heart, Mother Earth, Buddha, Shiva… your god or gods, or God… no matter how you define it.
With great love and respect, and awe, I gladly bow to that which is greater than this ego.
With reverence, I bow…
to that which is unending love, and bliss, and joy, that sees all as equal, none as superior, that which is wholeheartedly welcoming to all! I bow to that which uplifts all humanity and life (which strives to do no harm).
I bow… to life!
There is one job we can all do well….
being perfectly human, imperfect in so many ways.
We are perfect for the part!
It takes endless compassion for ourselves and others to really master this job.
And yet the pièce de résistence is our humility–
in awe of the life force that creates this all!
The best thing about this “role” is there’s no part you have to play, nor any lines to memorize. You just have to be yourself!
You’ve got this! You were perfectly cast for this one a long time ago!
With life always in flux, changing, our center shifting, we come in and out of balance.
Like our inner ear keeps us balanced and (generally) from toppling over, the forces of our being seek balance in the midst of flux.
In yoga, feel yourself coming in and out of balance, the ease when you are… and the body’s tendency to seek it when you’re not.
May you find things in your life that draw you into greater balance, absorbed in the center.
In your poses in life, on and off the mat, seek balance!
When you start to worry that what you do or say won’t be good enough….
Drop this fear of endless judging–this slippery slope with no real possible confirming conclusion–
And do or give what you can as an offering of love and support
As your part to help and/or assist others…
An offering from love, not from fear.
This can make all the difference in the world.
An offering of love and support–let this be your mantra!
“I offer this in love and support…”
Life can pull in so many different directions.
Seen one way, this can create a lot of stress… looked at another way, these forces can be embraced as the engines for dynamic change.
In yoga, we can find some ease in the midst of this dynamic change.
We gradually open congested areas so that energy can flow more freely.
We learn to embrace dynamic change.
We start to feel our center more and more in the midst of it all!
The Every Day Yogi 