Page 151 - Demo

www.MOSTmag.com || FITNESS MAG A ZINE || 151are %u201cgood%u201d or %u201cbad%u201d if we do or do not follow these guidelines. Rather, the teaching is that we will suffer more if we choose to act in those ways, and we will not be able to end our own suffering if we are creating it around us. Now why is this important to know and understand as a yogi? And how can these guidelines help us through our practice?Our asana practice is a reflection of our lives, and each yama & niyama can be a lesson to us as they show up in our practice. Keeping awareness of any feelings, thoughts, and just how we are physically moving through our postures, allows us to check in and see where it may be showing up in our lives. Let%u2019s first understand what some of these guidelines look like, and then see examples of how they may show up in our practice. Nonviolence means simply to do no harm to any of God%u2019s creation, including ourselves. The way we treat ourselves is in reality, the way we treat others around us. So noticing in your practice when you may be pushing yourself too much or not having compassion for yourself. It may also show up as you having fear in your practice, and therefore, you will live in a vibration of fear and hate toward others. Truthfulness is acceptance of yourself and where you are in the moment and with others around you. Being able to hold that space in your heart will allow you and others to grow to your fullest potential. So in your practice when you take your focus into your heart, notice what comes up for you. Do you feel centered or are you running from something? Non-excess is translated into %u201cwalking with God%u201d, living in balance, and pure bliss with what we have. When we are not overdoing or over indulging, we feel balanced and free and you can notice this with the energy that you are putting out. Do you feel grounded on your mat and are you moving with grace? Or do you feel heavy and constricted? Contentment challenges us to be at peace with whatever is, even with the fact that one is presently not content. We tend to constantly look to what is next instead of just living in the moment, therefore we miss out on the beauty and abundance that life has to offer. This could show up in your practice simply by just thinking about what the next posture will be instead of experiencing the posture that you are in. It could also be comparing your practice to another persons and not valuing you own growth and where you are. Practicing gratitude daily helps us with finding contentment; I like to start my morning by expressing three gratitude%u2019s for where I am and for what I have. To me Self-study and Devotion are two of the main foundations to each of my practices. Self-study is reflecting on our thoughts, beliefs and to our attachments we have with the world. Devotion is surrendering to the divine, letting go of ego, and trusting in the bigger picture at work. Each practice is a constant study of the self and a way to connect deeper to God and the universe. Through self- study on your mat, you begin to see and understand the bigger picture in life, and with that understanding you are able to surrender your ego and follow your heart. Through understanding these guidelines our asana practice becomes more then a physical practice; it is a practice of the mind, body, and spirit. It is a practice not only on our yoga mat; it is a practice in each moment of our day. These guidelines are a way of living, a way of being, and a way to live life fully in peace