Daily Routine

We tend to get bored with doing the same thing every day. But if we just become open and let things flow, things change in the "routine". Even when the sun rises everyday we think it's "another day". But the day always unfolds differently if we are open.

For me, a way to illustrate this point is as follows:

"I" teach yoga classes. A couple of days ago, when I started the class, I inspired to ask the students what they wanted to do in the class for that day. A student wanted to do the headstand, also referred to as sirshasana. Mind you, most of the students there that day have never done one. I asked him could he do a headstand. He then attempted to do one, however, he tumbled safely out of it. A few other students did it successfully in various stages. So I proceeded to demonstrate the basic head stand and of course most people were thinking "I can't do that". The suggestion of the headstand reminded my how I started out this year 2009 with the desire for more students to learn this posture that reverses the circulation in the body and wakes one up.

I took the class through sun salutations, surya namaskar, and other postures to open up the body. And low and behold, near the ending of the class I came back to demonstrating and having the students learn basic initial set up for the headstand. I was amazed at how the "creative energy" led me back to where I began, or my intention to have the class practice the beginning of headstand (as I could sometimes be lead on a tangent to other postures).

After the class, the same student came back to say that maybe he should have suggested something that everyone could do. I told him that it was perfect the way it unfolded. That we all need to go beyond what everyone else could do to be stimulated to move on, instead of getting stuck in our practice. He agreed. I thanked him again because it also stimulated me to be open and a channel for the energy to flow to have a "different" class in the "daily routine" of classes.

It is in the practice, the daily routine, like the sun rising everyday, that we learn, become open and gain new insight. Hopefully we all get up after a tumble and continue to rise not taking our daily routine for granted.

See related posts:

• Practice as a Tool YS I - 1, YS I - 2
• Repetition vs. Repetition

http://www.bometernally.com/

Focus and the Mind

I'm sure you have heard about some references in regard to 'focus' and the 'mind'. To the majority of us this can appear most times impossible as one can be distracted by any and everything in society as we grow up, especially here in the west.

This made me think about how I used to be uncomfortable about showing my legs because of some stretch lines on the skin. I didn't want to show them, so I would wear clothing to cover them up. From the perspective of the ego mind I would then appear to be like everyone else, or without blemish.

You might know by now that I am avid yoga practitioner. I recently did a 30 day challenge at a Bikram Yoga Center. Since the class is done at 105 degree temperature for ninety minutes, one doesn't tend to wear so much clothing and one would wear attire like going to the beach. So I wore shorts, revealing my legs. As I continued to do these classes, which I love, it didn't matter anymore about revealing my legs. My focus was on executing the postures. In fact, I noticed that if I did not put my attention, my focus, on my legs, I forgot about it and felt normal. I forgot about the preconceived concept of mine (my mind) or the ego mind that I should hide my legs.

Another example of focus and the mind is have you discovered that as the body ages and you bend upside down or lean forward that the flesh does too? I remembered the first time I saw this "I" was horrified. Yet I could still do all the things that I normally can do. So now I don't freak out about it as much anymore. I accept it and with this acceptance comes freedom as well as a change of focus. I am still able to use my body which is my vehicle and that is what really counts. And if other people don't like it, it does not matter.

Yoga is great as it helps one to appreciate the present moment right now. Instead of me "worrying" (and who is worrying), I continue to use the gift of today. After all I am not my vehicle and I should just take care of it so it can serve me as long as I am in it.

These experiences are making me become FREE and more my Self! After all it is all in my mind and no one else is focused on it than ME!

These examples definitely fits with the saying you are what you think or what you focus on! What are you focusing on today?

See related posts -

Thoughts As Eyeglasses - YS II - 33

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 - The Yoga of Knowledge