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

Popular posts from this blog

Re-Building + Persistence

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Re-building a routine is hard. I woke at my usual 5:00AM this morning and did not want to get out of my bed. I'm on my mat as I write this, however, and will be beginning my practice shortly.  I've found that, like most habit changes, the 3rd day "hump" is usually the most difficult; get past that, and you're golden. Tuesday, January 23, 2018 (Part II) I'm writing this on my mat, having just come out of Savasana. As always when we push ourselves through something we don't want to do, it feels good when it's done and over with.  I'm feeling wonderful, connected, and ready to address the challenges the day might throw at me. Namaste

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...

Monday, February 13 2017

Monday, February 13 2017 Groggily woke at 5:00am this morning.  I've had coffee and I'm on my mat but may not do a physical practice this morning. Monday, February 13 2017 (Part II) Did prayer/meditation on my mat and went through my standard warm-up routine.  That's all I have in me.  I'm going to move through my day slowly and with care and come home to crash in my bed. Namaste