When I go to Bikram hot yoga class, there are many teachers, and they rotate. I am happy to experience a new teacher becasue I never know what details of the same 26 postures I will focus on that particular day. Some teachers are like the general, barking out orders exactly when I need a push becasue I have been too comfortable in the pose and not giving it my all. Other teachers give gems of wisdom in between the poses, such sparkling words that resonate with me. I want to rush away and write down everything they said. Sometimes I silently repeat in my head a few choice words so I will remember them after class to meditate and write about. Sometimes I imagine being a yoga teacher, imparting words of guidance as well as a physical ass-kicking for 90 minutes!
Life is like yoga. What we put into it, we get out of it. Do not be timid with your life, becasue it will be over before you know it. If we want strength, then we must find strength in our own muscles. If we want mental strength and emotional strength, we have the opportunity to look deep within, with prayer, silence, nature walks, meditation, and we can seek out others who model the life we want. I have done just that. I love being around the folks who look like the strong warriors I want to emulate, while honoring my limitations.
In yoga, I must yield to the pain, to my own current limitations, while knowing that I will eventually, with practice, get stronger and more flexible. Every day in yoga is different, because we humans are different every day. What we eat, drink, think, and move like affects the body, mind, and emotions the next day. It is that way with our whole life too. If we have a stressful day at work, eat junk food, and drink a manhattan after work, we may not feel so great and rambunctious the next day. We may feel like laying low. Our hormones may be affected, and out of balance. Being gentle with the current state of who we are is important, while at the same time striving to be our best versions of ourselves. I call this being my superior self. What I put into myself, I get out of myself!
This is true for yoga, for work, for relationships, for things unseen, but felt nevertheless. It is not easy, but we are worth every effort.
What do you do to truly know and honor your efforts are where you want them to be? I want to hear from you!
Blessings,
KJ Landis
Life is like yoga. What we put into it, we get out of it. Do not be timid with your life, becasue it will be over before you know it. If we want strength, then we must find strength in our own muscles. If we want mental strength and emotional strength, we have the opportunity to look deep within, with prayer, silence, nature walks, meditation, and we can seek out others who model the life we want. I have done just that. I love being around the folks who look like the strong warriors I want to emulate, while honoring my limitations.
In yoga, I must yield to the pain, to my own current limitations, while knowing that I will eventually, with practice, get stronger and more flexible. Every day in yoga is different, because we humans are different every day. What we eat, drink, think, and move like affects the body, mind, and emotions the next day. It is that way with our whole life too. If we have a stressful day at work, eat junk food, and drink a manhattan after work, we may not feel so great and rambunctious the next day. We may feel like laying low. Our hormones may be affected, and out of balance. Being gentle with the current state of who we are is important, while at the same time striving to be our best versions of ourselves. I call this being my superior self. What I put into myself, I get out of myself!
This is true for yoga, for work, for relationships, for things unseen, but felt nevertheless. It is not easy, but we are worth every effort.
What do you do to truly know and honor your efforts are where you want them to be? I want to hear from you!
Blessings,
KJ Landis
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