Yoga - Walking Against the Wind
Yoga - Walking Against the Wind
Yoga - Walking Against the Wind
After the Art Montage Yoga & Music Center ribbon cutting ceremony, one week ago, I was having a conversation with a friend of mine about yoga. He had himself some yoga practice in the past, knew the benefits of yoga as a physical exercise and its impact on the health but didn't really understand the spiritual side of the practice of yoga. When I was talking with him about the body as an avenue to the spiritual that works from the inside out, and the importance of focusing on our breath when practicing, I realized that my friend, a well educated person, was listening carefully enough to end up the conversation as soon as possible. I came back home and wrote some words thinking about my own experience with yoga and I want to share my thoughts with you.
All of us have experimented this feeling of walking against the wind, physically o mentally. And we know it is hard, as life is hard sometimes and a yoga practice too. The first time we spread our toes on the mat we can be surprised, I was. I was expecting to escape in a special cosmic world by crossing my legs sitting on the mat, waiting for a huge and positive change in my life just because from now on I've decided to fill my mind with positive thoughts.Of course it is important to be positive but it is not enough.
I started to practice yoga as almost anyone who starts with yoga. Walking against the wind, struggling with my body, trying to breathe desperately during the practice and wanting to quit after each practice. But the good news is, it doesn't change with time.
I am still struggling with my body because I am getting older and as anyone I am always changing.I feel angry and frustrated sometimes and yes, sometimes I want to quit.
I am still walking against the wind, but my body is getting stronger and more flexible so I can face the wind without harming myself, folding forward, backward and leaning deeper to the side, waiting steady and quiet in an uncomfortable position, balancing on my arms, gathering my strength in a child pose and letting my breath carrying me when the wind is too strong.
I know now that spirituality is not about living out of the world in a third dimension, turning my back to the real world and only nurturing my mind with positive thoughts. Spirituality is about facing the world, looking in its eyes straight ahead, learning, knowing, and understanding. Spirituality is being awake, aware and meeting the difficulties of our live with courage and determination.
And that is why yoga works from the inside out, because each time we come back on the mat we learn how to walk against the wind, and practice after practice we start to enjoy it. And sometimes at the end of the class when we close our eyes, we can feel the breath of wind whispering us,
"it has been an honor to face you today".
Namaste
Annette Le Pavec
http://www.articlesbase.com/yoga-articles/yoga-walking-against-the-wind-3740497.html
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