Skip to main content

Friday Yoga

Friday, June 22, 2018,
Woke at my usual 4:45AM feeling wonderful.

I'm on my mat as I type this, ready to begin my practice.

I notice that I hone in on myself for some practices, and then not as much on others.  I don't force myself into anything on my mat (as I believe one of the primary benefits I learn is being ok with how things are on any given day) but, that aside, I do want to challenge myself a little more today and focus myself mentally.

The mental challenge as I understand it, is to shut down your mind and your thoughts as you practice.  This is nearly impossible to do for longer than 4 seconds; try it and you'll see!  You'll start thinking about your life, bills, responsibilities, fun activities you have planned...you'll bring yourself back and then focus on not focusing on anything...long story short, your brain and thoughts are running around doing whatever they want and part of the challenge is to control and shape them.  Controlling your body is 100% easier than controlling your mind.  I will focus on controlling my thoughts this morning.

Physically I'm feeling good this morning.  I feel strong from the practice I've had this week, and I'm looking forward to more backends and twists.  Whatever comes, comes....


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rebuild

Tuesday, July 10, 2018 Woke at my usual 4:45AM this morning for coffee and contemplation. Feeling wonderful this morning, and not terribly sore at all.  There's a bit of stiffness in my back from yesterday's backbends, but that's to be expected. Ready to sweat it out on my mat. Tuesday, July 10, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this off my mat, already showered up for my day. I love going to my mat.  The physical challenge alone is reward enough, but, while I've said it many times before, the mental and spiritual adjustments that one can make are priceless.  Physically, I already see a difference in my body.  Arms are still re-building their stamina, but the twists and forward bends I incorporate are already helping with digestion and elimination and the general "deflating" of my body and G.I. track (TMI, I'm sure, but this is one of the main physical reasons why I practice). Mentally, I feel prepared for anything that comes my way today and fe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Asana

Monday, March 30, 2020 After no physical practice/Asanas on Friday, and no yoga over the weekend, I notice that it's difficult to stay motivated and dedicated to my practice at times.  Additionally, I ran a solo-10K this weekend (the St. Louis GO! Marathon/Half-Marthon/10K was cancelled, like most public events), and the additional tenderness in my feet, legs, etc. definitely told me not to get on my mat. Monday blues/malaise, essentially.....a "negative mind"... When I'm on my mat, feeling like it's pointless, and that the day ahead is pointless, and that the efforts I'll expend to make things better are pointless, I can go back to the foundations of my life.  First, what do I live for?  I live for God.  That is my attempted mantra every day. It is not for me/you to understand the purpose of anything.  Pulling yourself out of an equation is very liberating in that you're no longer attached to the result. It's 5:27AM as I type this, and it...
Post a Comment
Read more

Be Driven

Friday, March 8, 2024, Motivation and drive will come and go.  Like all humans, one has a physical health and a mental health (and you could argue, other types of health too).  Some aspects of physical and mental health are fully silo'd from each other and sometimes, they overlap.  Have you ever felt physically ill, tired, unwell, "off", etc.....of course you have.....everyone has......that physical feeling of being unwell can, and will, effect your mental health.  The state of your body effects the state of your mind. The inverse of this is true as well; the state of your mind can, and will, effect your body.  Mind over body is, most often, the way to live as it demonstrates "who is boss" (your mind is), and who controls who (your mind should control your body)...." no....we're not going to eat Doritos and watch TV for 5 hours........no, we're not going to avoid our chore/task, etc. that we said we'd do........no, we're not going to order a...
Post a Comment
Read more