From feeling to doing
Yoga is for me an awareness practice. Yoga is a way for me to shift my awareness from my head to my heart. This is how I connect with the source of my life, presence. Yoga becomes healing when you’re in touch with your presence.
You can join me now to see what I mean. Your awareness should be in your head. Then, let it travel along the back and neck, to the throat, and down the spine. Your awareness will then travel down to your heart. This can be done with your eyes closed or while you read. Next, observe how you feel your body deep within. This will help you become more aware of your breath and sense of aliveness. This is a simple way to shift from “doing” and into “being” more.
Your mind will calm down if you approach yoga from the perspective of awareness or ‘presence’. You’ll find your mind becomes more coherent and present. A relaxed, coherent mind is the best way to heal.
Healthy mind is possible by cultivating a healthy lifestyle
The lens we use to view the world through is affected by a chaotic mind. Clearing the mind (or the lens) will make it calmer and more coherent. It will reflect the same back to you. A lens that is clear and mirror-like allows you to see the truth, not the mind’s interpretation.
Our physical bodies are often overlooked in terms of how to heal, what we should eat and how much exercise to do. While the body is important, I believe there is not enough emphasis on maintaining a healthy mind. While you may have a healthy and functioning body, your mind will be chaotic, filled with fear, and filled with chaos, and that can make it difficult to be happy. Your chances of happiness are higher if your mind is clear, calm, and healthy. A healthy mind will help you to cope with any illness or injury. How we take care of our minds is crucial.
Happiness does not depend on our life experiences and external circumstances. It depends on our ability and willingness to accept life as it is. Being present for what is happening, and not trying to control it, is the best way to live.
Most people want peace in their lives and the world around them. This directly relates to our ability to be with us. It is much easier to have peace within ourselves when you are clear, calm, and coherent. It is hard to imagine how you can be with yourself or your life if everything around you is chaos, confusion, and restlessness.
Concentrate on your breath
Focusing on your breath is a great way to access your awareness when you do yoga. Let the sensations, thoughts and feelings, aches, and pains be felt – let them be. But, focus on the breath.
You may find yourself avoiding the feeling of what’s happening in your body if you try too hard or your mind starts to cling on to the breath. You can be more relaxed and bring your attention to your breath by being gentle with your body. Instead of gripping, try to imagine your awareness resting on your breath like a feather on the leaf.