Thoughts on Yoga
Make Space to Have an Extraordinary Life
2007-08-16
I was talking with a student the other day about what being a yogi means to me. It means having the most joyous and authentic life I possibly can. It means functioning above and beyond average expectations and limits. It means finding out first-hand what being alive is really all about.
I found myself saying again and again--"You have to Edit!!"
You can't add more to an already overfull life. "Edit" means clear up your thinking, clean up your diet, clear out your schedule, clean up your finances, clear out your clutter, even clean up your speech. Then continue to Edit, Edit, Edit on an ongoing basis to make space for the things in life you truly want.
If you attempt to accomplish this monumental task by conscious self- will alone, your unconscious conflicts will continually sabotage rour efforts to change. Your thinking helped you create the muddle in the first place! You need to call on a higher level of consciousness. You need to clear your mind completely, every day.
Clearing your mind completely seems like an unrealistic goal when you are overwhelmed with daily living. Practicing yoga often will increase your concentration, contenment and fearlessness. When you make your mind free from anxiety and confusion, it will be naturally clear. You can learn how to do this at will.
Everyone has the potential to live a joyful authentic life. You really can experience a profound calm, clear and quiet knowing. This knowing tells you what to do and what not to do. This guidance is alignment with your deepest self. Then you can act decisively without inner conflict holding you back.
Entering into the knowing state and acting out of it day after day is the way to peace and bliss in this very life.
I'm talking about developing both a higher and a different level of concentration than what we use for everyday tasks. Yoga poses, breathing exercises, deep relaxation and meditation are way to develop it. I honestly don't know of any other way. The path has been shown to us by those who know how--all we have to do is practice.
If it were easy like watching TV, shopping, and sleeping, everyone would be doing it. Judging by the amount of pain and confusion in the world, we can see that few people are living joyfully. Common sense tells us that we will need to devote sustained energy to yoga if we want to be among those fortunate enough to taste its sublime fruits.
What you need to decide now is: do you want your life to be easy, or do you want it to be extraordinary?