What struck me?

“The master sticks to her tools.” - Lao-Tzu

What does this mean in my life and practice?

How many times have I been here before? And how many times have I found what helps me through? So why, when I find myself here again, don’t I reach for those tools? This is a question I have not quite answered yet.

Today that is my yoga practice. I have been practicing for 20 years and know what those tools are that work for me. I have finally decided to commit to the practice, and practice daily, to embrace the one tool that, for me, solves all; mentally, physically, and spiritually.

“Abhyasa, or practice, is really about making something a priority. As we enact that priority, an energy builds in our life to support it.”

My priorities had shifted so far out of alignment that I did not know or appreciate who I had become for myself and others. I was not “practicing” moderation, restraint, self-care, or anything really. I was simply “powering through” which is not “practice” and not healthy.

Last week, I received an email during the day that bothered me. I could feel my heart starting to pound. I was having a physical reaction to the stress. I stopped, received the message, and then carried on. If I had been deeper into using my resources, I might have gotten up and taken a walk outside to clear my head, breathe, and give myself the break I needed in that moment. Instead, I “powered on.”

I always had the tools to reach for. Why is it that in our weakest moments, we don’t?

“The winds of life constantly wear away at this shelter, but if we stick to our tools, the shelter will hold.”

Today my practice is my priority. I wake to it, return to its tools throughout the day, and lay my head down at night more peacefully because of it.

Life as I live it - Lori

What struck me?

“…a birth signals the death of their old way of life. …death of some aspect of our false self.. …we are born to a new understanding.”

What does this mean in my life and practice?

The theme of “vairagya” continues to be shown in various texts, multiple references. It is clear that it is aligning with me and this journey that I am flowing into. I see it, I feel it, and I own it.

I understand you.

L.

What struck me?

“Abhyasa is unconditional. It is the dedicated, unswerving application of what you believe in.”

What does this mean in my life and practice?

This one required more research and reading. I was surprised to see when I checked the Sutra 1:12 that it notes, “The formula for transforming our mind is simple and straightforward: abhyasa and (yesterday’s word) vairagya.” Abhyasa means practice and vairagya means non-attachment or letting go.

Bringing these two words together is pivotal for me. Abhyasa is practice, and vairagya is letting go. Together, they remind me that releasing what I’m holding on to takes practice, too. And perhaps that is how I make room for change.

This passage helped bring it together for me…

“We have the capacity to arrest our thoughts and attain mastery over our mind. By training the mind to be clear, calm, and one-pointed, we can change the nature of our thoughts and emotions and achieve mastery over our body, senses, speech, actions, and the word around us. We can be confident in our decision and pursue our goals fearlessly.” - Patanjali

Today, my practice is to notice what I’m holding tightly and begin to loosen my grip.

Life as I live it - L.

What struck me?

“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” - Thoreau

What does this mean in my life and practice?

I have been sitting on this Day 8 meditation for days, I guess that is truly meditating or at least marinating. Ironically not only was Vairagya the meditation but it also showed up as my Daily Yoga Card. Clearly a sign that the universe is calling it to my attention. So I dove in.

I think for today I will simply add the Daily Yoga Card right here so that you can benefit without my definition. You decide what it means to you.

What struck me?

The Tao Te Ching tells us “In the pursuit of knowledge, everyday something is added. In the practice of the Tao, everyday something is dropped.”

What does this mean in my life and practice?

Funny how easily we can add to our lives, yet letting go requires counsel. We’ve become familiar with the idea of hoarding in the physical sense, but how often do we consider the emotional or mental hoarding that happens when we live without letting go?

Today, I’m asking myself what I’ve been holding on to simply because I’m used to carrying it. What would it feel like to put one thing down?

I’ve carried every morsel of my history for years, believing it is who I AM. But if I’m going to become this next version of myself, I have to let it go—fearlessly.

What struck me?

“The belief that it is possible to heal the world without healing ourselves first is what the Yoga Sutras call a lack of true knowledge.”

“The truth is, when we are happy we spread happiness, and when we are in pain we spread suffering.”

What does this mean in my life and practice?

The immediate thought that comes to mind when reading these quotes is the familiar reminder to put on your own oxygen mask before helping someone else. I have never much cared for that comparison. It refers to what would otherwise be protocol in a tragic event, when most of our lack of self-care is far less tragic. Most of our neglect of ourselves happens in the ordinary course of living. We keep going, keep giving, and put ourselves off until later.

What I do believe is that who you are is what you deliver to the world. The energy you carry comes with you. It finds its way into your conversations, your patience, your reactions, and the way you make someone feel in your presence.

Be responsible for the energy you bring.

What struck me?

“If you do what you did, you get what you got.”

“Practice is doing the work. It is following up your intention with action.”

What does this mean in my life and practice?

These two quotes from today’s reading are the conflict between my intentions and my reality. I do not want to stay stuck, I know what I am doing will keep me where I am, yet here I am.

I know better than anyone that when you start walking down new paths you find new lands. Why then do I track back to walk the paths that I have walked before. Those that keep me stuck? Stuck in a cycle of exhaustion and excess that lacks the energy to forge ahead.

This means that I don’t negotiate with myself, I do it. I don’t make excuses, I do it. I know better, and I do better. Every time I am true to this statement, I am taking one step closer to my new reality.

Just do it.

What struck me?

“If you want to end darkness…you have to turn on a light.”

Marianne Williamson

Be the light. — LK

What does this mean in my life and practice?

This is so obvious and yet so profound. We choose. We decide. If you want to be in the dark, you will stay…dark.

Turning on the light in my life is turning on the light that radiates from inside me. I am light. I choose to be light. I decide.

Turn on the light.

What struck me?

“…out of the driver’s seat for a while and enjoy the scenery. Let the river of yoga take you where it will.”

What does this mean in my life and practice?

This is exactly what I have chosen to do by signing up for Yoga Teacher Training and spending my time this week mostly focused on yoga as a whole. This is most definitely my happy space. Why not have more of it?

The force to do it is less pushing and more a pulling—pulling more toward what I want. What I need.

I am going to enjoy my time. I am going to prioritize it.

I am going to BE.

What struck me?

“Everything all the time.”

Which resonates with me and is in my mind flawed as multitasking being inefficient, unfocused, and out of reach. I appreciate the note that “we must have a mind that has let go of the habit of distraction and developed the habit of concentration.” This is where I believe I need the most work. What surprised me was the final sentence, “We are doing our yoga all the time.” Wow.

What does this mean in my life and practice?

It means that there is a place for everything all the time and concentration rather than focus may be the key differentiator. Focus means we hone in, tunnel vision. Concentration means we dive in understanding that there may be many views in that dive that allow us to concentrate on the bigger picture even when there are many areas of focus.

What struck me?

"We must simply remain open to our own spiritual potential and be willing to take action on our own behalf."

What does this mean in my life and practice?

Trust your instinct. Trust your voice. When something is pulling follow when it is in alignment with your spiritual journey. Resist when it takes you further away from where you want to be.

My example is with the Kloud mat. I succumbed to it on day one for 45 minutes and seemingly had a very solid night of sleep. I decided to rent it, to indulge those helping me decompress, and to be open-minded. All the while there was something pulling me in a different direction however I pushed forward. Ultimately the second time on the mat proved to take me out the following day. Whether it is truth or hyperbole it is enough to know that this is not for me. Now.

I have lived much of my life, pleasing others. Meeting others expectations. Now it is time to not be pulled around by my “grounding cord” but rather to hold sacred what is my own space. I don’t need to explain. I don’t need to speak life into others beliefs. I only need to hold space for my own. How is it changing me. How is it serving me?

I will continue to explore this new space. This new sacred space.

What struck me?

"Yoga is the study of balance, and balance is the aim of all living creatures, it is our home."

"It is the aim of all spiritual seeking to bring us home, home to the understanding that we already have everything we need."

What does this mean in my life and practice?

Balance is what I am aiming for in all things in my life. I want to find the middle, the grey, the place where the extremes are extreme. The place where peace lives.

The statement “that we already have everything we need” is so very powerful. I find myself seeking constantly. Regardless of substance, I am seeking. Hunger for food, things, love, attention, it matters not, I am always seeking. When you reconcile that you already have everything you need you stop seeking. You start living. You live in a space of gratitude that all that you need is already here. This is where I am to be.