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Dude, Where's My Motivation


Wednesday, April 8, 2020 (Part I),
Woke up this morning at the usual 4:15AM.  After my standard 45-ish minutes of coffee and contemplation, I unravel my mat, change into my yoga gear, and get set up to practice.

 It's 5:25AM as I type this, so I'm a bit behind schedule.  It's another warm day today so, like yesterday, I expect today's practice to be smooth, physically, with my body cooperating most of the time (we'll see what happens). 

Enough chit-chat....time to begin....

Wednesday, April 8, 2020 (Part II), 
I don't know why, but I have been completely lackluster, and unmotivated to practice this week.  I did go through an exceptionally challenging Ashtanga Primary Series this morning but, for some reason, my head and heart were having none of it.  Naturally, I'm writing this Part II update as I always do; after I've completed my practice, reflecting on the version of myself that I was before I began, and after I finished.

I don't know why, but I've felt this non-motivation Monday, Tuesday and today.  It's nothing too serious, but just a complete mental-eye-roll at the thought of hitting my mat and going through my practice.

If you read and follow this blog, you'll know that one of the key principles I know is that, regardless of how you feel at any given time, you've been assigned duties and obligations (assigned either by yourself, or by others) and you will feel pride when you follow through with them.

No one is obligating me to go to my mat every morning; that is something I've obliged upon myself, but how do I turn it around?

One method that's proven to work for me is to take a calm, and collected look at why I'm feeling blue and unmotivated.  I do this while going through my meditation and prayers, which alway precede my physical/Asanas/yoga poses.  In other words, I turned inwardly, and slowly teased apart the items that flit around in my mind which might cause me to feel a certain way.  After I've identified each item, I look collectively at them, all in a pile, and it never amounts to anything.  Ever.  My little "pile of woes", once calmly assessed, is nothing.  That realization is the beginning of the attitude adjustment.

While my mind and motivation have been lacking, the additional heat on this Springtime day, have my physical body moving beautifully in and out of sequences, and Asanas/poses.  Large, muscle groups (legs, torso, etc.) that are often sore and tight due to their constant, and varied use, felt malleable, pliable, and easily opened.

If you're a beginner, and would like to grow your understanding of yoga, I would say to start small; view a great, 13 minute video that demonstrates Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutes) here.

Feeling marvelous, and proud that, even with zero motivation and drive, I began my day on my mat. 

Namaste 

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