When one of us decides to pursue the study of Yoga, we find
ourselves living and learning Yoga every day. On or off the mat,
Yoga students can apply their practice to the many lessons life
has to offer. The result of all this learning, and applying
Yogic principles to life, is a major leap in self-improvement.
You can learn from your past, live the present moment in
harmony, and plan your future, with an improved perspective of
each. Past, present, and future are valuable, but each is
important in a different way.
Let's first address the past. Many people are "prisoners" to
their past. When you look at past lessons, mistakes, and
set-backs, each is as valuable as any form of higher education.
This becomes life experience, and you should make the most of
any form of education; otherwise you are wasting your life
experiences, twice - first by learning them, and then later by
regretting, blaming, and second guessing yourself. On top of
this, you can create poor mental, physical, and spiritual health.
This is the exact opposite from what you are taught in a Yoga
class. Yoga teaches you to unify these components of health, and
this will enable you to improve your entire being. Put past
worries, adversity, and pains behind you.
You can save them in a "mental file," much like a valuable book.
This teaches you not to repeat the same mistake twice. Remember
that the past is filled with accomplishments, too. If you can
read these words, you must be accomplishing quite a bit.
Be fair with yourself and try not to be so critical. Let go of
guilt and forgive yourself for being human. If you start to sink
into deep dark past regrets, practice pranayama; breath
awareness is the key to bringing you into the present.
This is much similar to what you might do when holding an asana
for an extended time during your Yoga practice. This will also
allow you to focus on the most important time of all - the
present moment.
The present is the time for action, and you must be proactive in
order to succeed in life. Good reactions will save your life,
but proactive behavior requires planning, innovation, vision,
and perseverance. You must focus on the present to see
opportunities which are right in front of you.
Life is filled with many obstacles and you have to be ready for
the daily challenge. You cannot change the past, but you can
change the present and future. Every successful person has faced
criticism, failure, and self-doubt.
When you let negative thoughts into your heart and mind, you
cannot think clearly. You cannot act now, and this affects your
ability to plan for the future. How can you visualize success,
if you are letting fear and self-doubt control your life?
Fill your mind with passion that motivates you to step forward
and plan your future. When you meditate, take the time to
visualize your success, achievements, and goals as vividly as
possible. When you practice meditation and Yoga in this way, you
will find yourself enjoying life, helping others, and on your
path to success.
© Copyright 2005 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
About the author:
Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in
RI. He's a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He
teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a
Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a
Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
