| Freshening Up Your Asana |
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Especially this day and age, I can't say enough about staying present & keeping a beginner's mind. This article is about why and how to stay present on the mat, but as the yoga mat reflects to us what we are, we can reflect back what we want to be and make a positive change in our real life.
Especially this day and age, I can\'t say enough about staying present & keeping a beginner\'s mind. This article is about why and how to stay present on the mat, but as the yoga mat reflects to us what we are, we can reflect back what we want to be and make a positive change in our real life. sex toys | dildos | egg vibrator | penis pumps "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few" - Shunryu Suzuki. Having a beginner's mind in your yoga practice is a beautiful thing. As the saying goes... "if you do things the way you've always done them, what you'll get is what you've always gotten." Staying present takes you out of the routine of doing something the same way each time. A beginner may not have the body awareness that a seasoned yogi may have, but what they lack in awareness they make up for in willingness to try. It is always with a beginner's mind that I have those aha! moments in class where I finally "get" a pose I have been doing half-ass or wrong for years. Its easy even as a teacher to get settled into a routine script of queues that work well in class; lift this, lengthen that, bend here, extend there, but its better for teachers to stay present as well. A good teacher instructs from the present moment and, therefore, will queue a little bit differently in each class. A good teacher is NOT on auto-pilot. In addition, each teacher has something different to bring to their students based on their personality, life experience, etc., and this flavors their teaching, their classes, and their message. Staying present and following instructions from moment to moment during your yoga class creates a gateway to expansion in your yoga practice. Another way you can keep your beginner's mind fresh is with where you place your mat in class. I have noticed many yoga practitioners arrive early to class to"get their spot." Instead of placing your mat down in the same spot, pick a new spot each time. Keeping your surroundings new and fresh will contribute to helping you break old patterns, whether they are physical, mental or spiritual. If it means you are in the sun, the air is stuffy or the air temperature is higher, adding new elements to deal with each time will help you step out of your comfort zone. Above all, a yoga practice of any kind is better than no practice at all. As with all lessons learned on the mat, you may end up taking this freshness into work, school or back home with you and sharing these lessons is one of the purposes in life. Let your light shine and be open to limitless possibilities! |