Why yoga is brilliant! (Particularly if you are a stress head.)
So many words!
DOES IT ALL NEED TO BE SAID? Do I need to bore everyone sh*tless with my ramblings?
I think so!
I love reading the things I blogged about this time last year because in my naivety, I gave away what mattered most... and it enables me to know what's changed... and to laugh at myself...which is key.
I’m at Dum and Mad's house today and have just rustled through some letters from my youth. 21st birthday cards and 30th birthday cards… they are all kept in my fireplace.
As much as I think I’ve grown in awareness and openness, and perhaps we all have. We (my pals and I) were so OPEN, honest, young, warm, needy, caring, thoughtful and NAÏVE in what we wrote to each other when we were young! These letters are startling in their honesty, they show such trust and devotion. I really thought we were still open, but nothing like we were... and so that's why it's important to write now because I expect I'll only become more naturally censored with age. Whilst it's a bit cringe to write so freely... it does provide valuable INSIGHT!
For this reason I'll continue to write what I think and feel about things because it will be relevant in 20 years and it will remind me of my journey and allow me insight into how I used to view the world.
YOGA is essential to the journey.
I think yoga is MAGIC and if you are looking for something to help you relax, then I recommend it. The less calm, flexible and focused you are... the more important it is for you to explore. Tight bodies and anxious minds need stretching and relaxing! BREATHE...
"What is so special? Isn't it just stretching? I'd prefer a real work out!"
That's what everyone always says to me when I bang on about yoga. So here is WHY what yoga provides what kickboxing doesn't...
Cast your mind back to the best party you’ve ever been to. Really picture it... take yourself back there.
Perhaps it was a wedding or a great birthday party where everything was falling into place. Something you had been excited about for weeks beforehand. All the people you love are in one place, the weather is good, the music is ace, the drinks are flowing and your mood is HIGH.
At a certain point during the evening you’re going to feel a surge of JOY. That, “fuck yeahhhh! This is such a great night I bloody love you!” BIG HUG, happy moment, take a photo and ENJOY… LIFE IS ACE.
The booze helps you to let go and live in the moment and the love of life and everything just flows on in.
THAT FEELING of happiness, appreciation, GRATITUDE for the moment, love, joy, release, freedom... That is the feeling you get from yoga, eventually (on a really good day! ) When you learn to LET GO and somehow love everything you have ever loved and let go of anything that has ever made you sad… but with wisdom. Taking the lesson you learned from the sad encounter and remembering the experience gratefully for being a teacher... or remembering WHY you got into that situation. We generally only follow good feelings to get to places, so there was good in it... somewhere.
SOMEWHERE or SOMEHOW, you can locate the the good to take out of the situation.
Try not to pursue assholes with the above notion in mind... it's hard work. A useful trick to have, but not one to seek out using... Like a Petronus charm on dementors ;) Those bastards are going to kill your vibes. (Harry Potter reference.)
When you can forgive and focus on NOW… not memories, not desires, not what you wanted, not what you lost, not where you are going, not who you are missing, not what you want next and not how you wish things could be different. When you understand that what stressed you out 5 years ago is no longer stressing you… and what is stressing you now will not be stressing you in 5 years… and somehow put that stress in a box and treat it as an observation not a problem that is itching in your head. Then you can live in the moment and UNDERSTAND that you can handle what is happening and detach from the emotion.
I am told that our thoughts are like a monkey swinging from branch to branch. The monkey is a monkey… watch him, don’t engage with him. The brain will go from one anxiety to the next… WATCH the thoughts, do not focus on them. Find a space of peace that takes a step back from your life, looks at the big picture and smile at the story unfolding. Everything changes, nothing stays the same… ride the wave...
If you can detach for 5 minutes a day, you can take control of your life, of your FEELINGS and make decisions based on intelligent choices; not from fear. RESPOND DO NOT REACT... Then life will be easier and better.
So that’s why yoga is bloody great. It took me 2 years before I had that first ZING of ONENESS... but it was magic! I had it again last week at Rave Yoga, next level stuff!
I’m still very much a beginner and there is nothing HUGELY traumatic I’ve had to let go of. When I’m having a day where I can’t focus and calm I think… you have to be working on this now because one day you will really need to access this head space.
Grief has to be one of the hardest things to manage, but if you can hold on to love and let go of the rest you can find moments of peace... it will help you to heal. Those momentary feelings of oneness are easily the most inspiring sensations I've ever had.
Traveling has a similarly eyeopening effect because when you travel everything goes wrong. Problem after problem after problem… but what an opportunity to PROBLEM SOLVE and there is ALWAYS a solution. BREATHE, stay positive, ask for help, find a solution. Life = journey = problems. BUT there are solutions and there is always the peace of the moment... and you can always just laugh!
"WHAT A DAY!"
Keep practicing. It's all very well and good to feel happy and harmonious on your yoga mat but it's another thing to stay calm when you have to start dealing with PEOPLE!
Practice, practice, practice and don't over stretch yourself. Breathing well is more important than being bendy a Pretzel...
THIS IS LONG ENOUGH! I'll leave you with some words from my favourite yoga teacher's page!
OM SHANTI
Fran x x x