Within your power...

When I began my personal yoga journey (almost approaching 20 years ago!), it was for stress relief in a very tumultuous personal time of my life. I realize this is a rather common reason for many of us to seek a yoga practice. Validly, it Does help!

All of this time and years of practice later has helped me understand and employ the power of letting go. The ability to ask myself, what is within my power? What do I need to do here and what can I let go? There is power of our will in both of these practicies - action and inaction. The physical asana and breath pranayama practice of yoga helps bring home in a very concrete way how we can, as the Bhagavad Gita recommends for us, practice inaction within action. Yes. I am saying when we understand how our physical bodies can rest in an active pose and move in a resting pose we are embodying the practice of "one who has accomplished all action." It is a true path towards then being better able to take the same steps in our mental and emotional bodies. All leading to greater spiritual depth - wisdom.

"One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among humans, and is a yogi who has accomplished all action." BG 4.18

I'm going to use the example of my work as Let It Be Yoga's owner and manager. The Human condition: My mind can spin a thousand reasons I ought to do more, or have the desire to do more regarding my life things...even in the name of "I ought to do this for the business of LIBY". My mind can worry over the critics I have who see me (In thier minds) as someone who is failing with timely posts, delayed schedules or website updates (there are real critics and some imagined I'm sure, plus my own self as a critic of myself!). I don't think "they" mean harm, they just somehow have an idea of how I ought to do or be and maybe how they could or would do it different or better. {this is an example that I'm sure anyone can relate too within their own work/life}

The Yogi: When these thoughts and lines of thoughts swirl in my head I know it is time for me to get still (inaction) within the action. What is in my power to do? And what can I let go of. Where is the wisdom here and where is the ego?

Of course, the wisdom is in knowing that I do the best I can and my heart is for LIBY along with everything else I do in my life. And my heart is truly for our community. I am by no means perfect and yet I know the truth of my Being in this place. So, I can let go the pressures of the rest. I do my best and then I let go of the results. And I send my critics love, compassion and well wishes. Seeing them successful in all of their endeavors.

The Result: This is where I find true peace. Wisdom.

And I hope Everyone else who seeks yoga As a practice allow these inroads of wisdom Through a yoga practice bring about greater peace within, to find them.

Yoga does not eliminate life stressors. Life will always offer up these opportunities for us to deal with ourselves. Yoga has helped me learn how to get back to my peace quicker. Who knows? One day I may just be able to override the Human condition. But then, I'd be in Samadhi. Total self collectedness.

And to think, it all started with a mat practice almost 20 years ago. Namaste'