?Yoga is the practice of tolerating the consequences of being yourself? - Bhagavad Gita
Even though the month is quickly coming to a close it?s worth noting that September is? National Yoga Month.? Ironically, even though about 16 million people do yoga now, this fact keeps a low profile, preferring to be quietly noticed, rather than creating a lot of ballyhoo about itself.? How very like yoga to do that.
Now if you?ve been following this blog for more than a week, you probably realize that yoga has been part of the warp and weft of my life for about 20 years.? I discovered the practice while struggling to regain my health after a very serious illness.? More than just the personal benefits I gained from the practice, it took hold of me so completely that I began a whole second career sharing yoga with students as a teacher in the Kripalu tradition.
Yoga is and has been my anchor when life was most uncertain; the burr under my saddle when my actions didn?t match my belief; the physical metaphor for developing the strength, flexibility and balance I hoped to embrace every day.? And, just like the opening quote implies, yoga offered an opportunity for self-acceptance I?d not found anywhere or anytime before.
Everyone, including me, comes to yoga hoping to gain something from the experience.? Maybe they want to be healthier, less stressed, more flexible, or simply cure their aching backs. ? There are as many reasons as there are people taking class.
Probably for me, the most exciting part of what I do is teaching folks who are ?newbies? to the whole yoga thing.? Sometimes they share with me what brought them to sign up, sometimes I just look out over the room and sense the feeling that they are waiting for something to happen, some sought after change to come.
It?s not my business? to know why they are in that room sitting cross-legged on the floor for perhaps the first time since they were 5 or 6 years old.? What IS my business is to reassure them without hesitation that, if practiced regularly, the yoga will guide them unerringly from where they are now, to where they need to go next.? Ironically, it?s not even essential that the practitioner know where that is ? the yoga seems to always know.
So there you have it ? my open ?love letter? to yoga, my companion over these many years.
True, yoga is not for everyone, and there are certainly other ways to bring together the body, mind and spirit in the union which defines yoga.? But, if you feel the least bit curious, I offer my invitation to be brave and try it.? There?s lots of different styles, and many personalities of teachers to chose from.? Do a little research and find something that calls to you.
I?ve always thought of the Fall, not January, as the beginning of the year.? It?s a great time to begin a new practice, or recommit to an existing one.
Meet you on the mat!
Peace ? Judi England, RN, LMT, Kripalu Yoga Instructor ? yogajudi@aol.com ? 9/24/2012
Source: http://blog.timesunion.com/holistichealth/yogas-here-to-stay/9839/
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