 It's been years since I was a smoker.
I really enjoyed it, but realised it wouldn't be easy to stop. Alan Carrs book, Quit Smoking offered an important stepping stone. The reframe it offers is that at first it feels like you are giving up something, that you are sacrificing your beloved cigarette and all that that comes with. But he turns it around. He invited me to see that rather giving something up, I was gaining freedom from something. I would be free from the need to have a cigarette in my hand, I would enjoy better health, fresher clothes and breath, and save money. The same net gain applies to the technique offered in this week's classes. It is a tiny yet powerful tweak to your practice that you can bring in at any time. It starts with just two breaths Between each yoga pose, completely stop, for two breaths. Leave the sweatshirt where it is, feel the rogue hair on your face but don't adjust it, and just stand and experience the moment - even if it is uncomfortable. An intentional pause. A hiatus from the constant movement and reactivity to impulses that arise in us all day long. These might be the only moments of stillness in your entire day. It has had a powerful effect on many of you. It can be a revelation I know, we come to yoga to move right? But... Some have felt relief, spaciousness, feeling more free once the option to adjust and lose the focus is contained. I'm sure others who didn't like it found it tricky or frustrating or uncomfortable, but it is interesting to try either way and something to practice. Stillness is underrated Unintentional moving expends energy and encourages us to be constantly distracted. At first it might feel like an effort not to move. Changing a long-time habit might meet resistance. But like Alan Carr, try flipping this on its head. Instead of seeing it as effort to remain still, see is as freedom from habits that might not be serving you well. Pointless? Try it anyway It starts with 2 small breaths, staying completely still after each pose. It might feel uncomfortable, unnatural, or even pointless. That is okay, try it anyway. Over time, it develops into being comfortable with stillness. And once you find that, the relief is immense and quite a revelation. Yoga is sometimes called a 'moving meditation' but in many ways, the moving aspects of yoga practice are the precursor to learning how to be still physically with ease, then mentally. The asanas (postures) prepare you, your body and your mind to feel more comfortable in finding stillness and calmness that can be taken into a more contemplative phase to your yoga journey and help find more space and ease in day-to-day life. Enjoy.
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 I went to an EPIC 3D movie last weekend and had a blast. It was loud, the seat vibrated, the screen was huge and absorbing and the story was fun, sad, exciting, dramatic.
It was almost completely absorbing (not quite, the 3D glasses were really heavy!). I sort of disappeared and got caught up in the story and had a great time. Disconnection from ourselves Disconnection from ourselves happens more when we are engaging in lots of busy, external activities. Work, looking after family and friends, engaging in entertainment (3D movies!) that take us out of ourselves. Arguably, modern life is more disconnected ever. Our lives are more and more mediated by screens and our entertainment is more passive, less sociable and less physical.  Why being good isn't the point
Someone mentioned to me this week that they used to be better at yoga than they are now. Do you ever think that you aren't very good at yoga? Notice self-judgement Perhaps we have judged our performance in a pose, or noticed that we weren't doing a pose for as long as someone next to us or that we should be better than we are. That we didn't sweat much or that we didn't try hard enough. The real measure These aren't the measures of being good at yoga.  Yesterday as I was cycling to the studio, a motorist wound down his window and said my bike light wasn't working. I was confused. My light was sitting on the front of my bike blinking brightly, my back light was doing the same. I carried on none the wiser, heckled for not being lit up enough amongst the array of lights on Gloucester Road. I can only think that with the other 10,000 lights on the street he didn't see them. They got lost in the noise.
The sensory stimulation is at its highest at this time of year (Christmas). Filled with optimism and hoping for joy, we are bombarded with jingly music and bright blinking lights. It is wonderful, and overwhelming. Try this mini-pause Taking regular breaks from it all is never more important than now. It is a wonderful time to take 5 minutes, dim the lights, light a candle and withdraw from the noise. Set up Turn off your phone, tell folks in your house your busy for 5 minutes, close the door to you bedroom |
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Bristol YogaSpace Ltd
The Courtyard Princes Place, Bishopston Just off Gloucester Road Bristol BS7 8NP |
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