Once again my husband, Nelson, and I had a profound car talk moment over the weekend.
We were talking about our experiences with body and breath work, and with yoga teachers specifically. Nelson said, “Some teachers lead you through the poses one after the other in succession. Other teachers lead you into the poses, ask you to focus on your breath and be aware of your body. Then the teacher will come around and adjust your body to give you a better position, a deeper stretch, or to remind you to breathe if they can see you are holding back.”
Then Nelson said it: “In some yoga classes, you’re just going through the motions, without much intention or thought.”
I gasped and said, “Oh my gosh! This is such a metaphor for life, isn’t it?”
Sometimes you’re just going through the motions: eating, sleeping, pooping, having sex, going to work, watching TV, taking a shower, and repeating day after day…
(or some stuff like that)
And sometimes you’re truly living life, fully engaged, passionate, hair-on-fire, Soul burning bright, leaving a trail of kindness, compassion, and love in your bright, shining wake.
Right?!?!!?!
My questions, gentle reader:
- Are you just going through the motions?
- OR ARE YOU REALLY LIVING LIFE?
You know, they call yoga a “practice” for a few really important reasons:
- Repetition – of the poses and the act of “doing” yoga
- Attention – to proper breath and body placement
- Commitment – to showing up fully, being in the poses, being with your breath, and being with whatever feelings come up
I read somewhere that yoga was intended to be a practice done before meditation. To move the body and the breath in preparation for the stillness of going inward.
It’s so intentional when you see it as a practice.
I wonder where in your life you’re “just going through the motions.” What could you stop doing in order to make room for something that lights a fire under your ass? What could you stop striving for that is empty and doesn’t give you a spark…in order to start doing something that lights you up like a sparkler on the Fourth of July?
How can you stop going through the motions and instead begin to practice something more meaningful and intentional in your life?
- Do you desire a teacher, advisor, or mentor to show you the way? Get one!
- Do you thrive being part of a connected community? Find one!
- Do you want to learn something new that’ll eject you from your comfortable seat? Sign up for the class, training, lecture, or bootcamp!
Times-a-wastin’, gentle reader. Stop navel-gazing. Go ahead and get organized. Get the systems needed to grow your business. Bring order to your world instead of chaos. Get the training you need. Learn about boundaries and embrace them in order to give yourself the time you want. Then get focused: hyper-focused on what you can contribute to the world and her suffering people.
Trust me – you are here for some reason. Don’t let disorganization, confusion, chaos or fear hold you back.
Ready to make your LIFE your profound practice?
Angie