How to Keep Yoga Interesting

You gotta love teachers who keep it interesting.

Keeping yoga interesting, keeps you coming back. Win-win.

Trouble is...that isn't really yoga. Lemme explain...

What're you concerned about when you're practicing yoga? Where's your focus?

Breath. Bingo!

If you're focussed on your breath, what changes from session to session? Nothing. Yup...

It literally takes years to open your body. It'd be more interesting sitting watching an orchid bloom.

Only we aren't sitting watching. Our mind is laser focussed on the breath.

Yoga is neither boring nor interesting. It just is.

CU in class, just being, J.

When Is a Yogi a Yogi?

When do you know you're a yogi?

Three classes per week? Four? Five years practice? Ten?

It's not really the number of classes, or length of time practicing - although that will eventually affect you. It's attitudinal.

But it's not your attitude to yoga. It's how yoga changes your attitude or approach to other things.

When you find yourself at work saying "Whatever will happen will happen"...and previously you were this ultra-OCD person, then unfortunately, yeah, you're a yogi.

It'll get you eventually, if you keep coming back, J.

What You Really Learn Doing Yoga

A really important thing to know about yoga, is that it's a solitary endeavor. I know, I know.

You're thinking that there's another dozen or so people in class. How can yoga be solitary?

Well,  assuming you've managed to close down your senses, and you're totally focussed. Then, there really isn't anyone else. It's just you and your breath.

So, there is only one answer, to what you could possibly be learning in yoga. Because there's only one thing that there is, to actually learn about ...YOU.

You see, yoga's not about poses or breath, it's about knowing about yourself. Your body. Your mind. Your senses.

Yoga is an exploration of you. That's it!

CU in class, learning about yourself, J.

What You Should Be Doing In Warrior 1 and 2

The stuff you hear in a yoga class.

This in warrior 1 and 2...

"Push out through your legs."

"Push the mat apart."

Say what!?!

Let's keep it simple and basic.

The outside of your rear foot is what you should be focusing on.

You need to be pressing the outside edge of the back foot into the mat...THEN...and this is the important bit...

...make the action of dragging the back foot towards the front foot. 

The result is that the pose goes from an outward spilling of energy, to an inward and upward, gathering of energy.

...one is weak ...the other is strong ...you know ...like a warrior.

Peace out, J.

How To Make Yogic Decisions

If you're unsure about a decision you need to make. Here's some messianic advice...

Ask yourself if you're making the decision based on fear or values.

Fear might give you short term relief (vanity, ego). But in the longer term it may bring pain (grief, resentment, anger, regret).

A values based decision might bring short term pain (sorrow), but should stand you well in the longer term (compassion, joy, happiness).

CU in class, makin' good decisions, J.