By Randi SchiffmanI am addicted to Yoga, To the experience of union The way my body intelligently moves through space The way my mind empties all of its contents To peace Tranquility Clarity Practice that purifies Orgasmic experience The "yoga high" Breath embodied Intimate relationship with the universe Experiencing the microcosm of the macrocosm Direct experience with life Elemental awareness Intentional time with myself Opportunities to soften, surrender and let go Realizations and epiphanies I’m addicted to Yoga, To lessons learned Pockets of creativity released Present moment Connection The way it makes me want to be better Do better Eat better Live better Helps me find grace Acceptance Shows me my judgemental mind Honors and acknowledges all aspects of oneself Directs and contains energy Restores balance Allows me to expand in one moment and contract in the next The vibration of every cell in my body Self observation and reflection I’m addicted to Yoga, To self inquiry Mindfulness Alignment and refinement Heightened awareness Relaxed wakefulness Aliveness Communion with Self My romantic partner, my lover Contentment Allows for dissolving into nothingness Body wisdom Self Love and empowerment Goddess embodied Warmth and gentleness Compassion Illumined like all the rays of the sun A Thousand petaled lotus When I do yoga, I want more...I crave more, like a drug. But, healthy addictions are still addictions and ultimately take me away from balance. My 90min practice quickly turns into a 4hr practice and all of a sudden I’m obsessive about the one thing that helped to balance me in the first place. Addictions are extremes and in any extreme, it’s not so sustainable long term. Where did I go wrong?
So if I can't practice my yoga one day, will everything fall apart? Will I be ok without this experience? When I am sick or tired and can’t move my body, do I lose this sense of Yoga? Do I become depressed and incapable of seeing clearly now? Does panic and anxiety fill my being? Hopefully not. The Fourth Yama from The Yoga Sutras speaks about, Brahmacarya, or moderation. In fact, all the teachings of Yoga are about balance. The wild dance between our higher Self and our human nature. We must continue to comprehend that Yoga is everywhere; inside us, outside of us, and accessible in each moment and in each breath. It’s not a thing that we do, or are addicted to, but the way in which we live a healthier balanced life. In terms of a balanced physical practice and to compliment the ancient teachings of The Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita, Mark Whitwell suggests we must “Practice actually, naturally and non-obsessively” Swami Sivananda summed it up pretty well in this song, The Yoga of Synthesis: Eat a little, drink a little, Talk a little, sleep a little, Mix a little, move a little, Serve a little, rest a little, Work a little, relax a little, Study a little, Worship a little, Do asanas a little, Pranayamas a little, Reflect a little, meditate a little, Do japa a little, do kirtan a little, Write mantra a little, have satsanga a little, Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize, Be good, do good; Be kind, Be compassionate, Enquire, ‘Who Am I?’ Know the Self and be free. Take a moment, 3 conscious breaths perhaps and contemplate the things in your life you feel addicted to and don’t stop there. What actions can you take today on creating a more balanced life. In gratitude of deep reflection, Randi
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Randi SchiffmanERYT 500 Archives
October 2018
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