Treat yourself as though you are your own beloved child. Wouldn’t this be the ultimate New Year’s resolution? We strive so for the best for our children yet often set the bar so low for ourselves. We ponder to give them meaningful answers, morals and a sense of commitment but can fall short of the mark ourselves. They will do as you do and not as you say. So turn that unconditional love inwards and it will give you the strength to change anything you wish to.
The practise of yoga is such a challenge – dedication is required – the kind of dedication we unswervingly lavish on our offspring – lavish some on yourself! Sir Yehudi Menuhin – dedicated yoga pupil of BKS Iyengar (the father of yoga in the Western World) writes about “returning daily to the attack” – hardly the words I would use in attempting to cajole perspective yogis but as one of the worlds greatest violinists the man was no stranger to discipline. We all wax eloquent with our kids about practice and sticking with chosen sports, activities and subjects but usually don’t ourselves want to take on anything too demanding. Asanas (postures) help us learn to differentiate between good and bad pain.
This brings awareness in the body and strengthens the mind body connection – you will have more chance of avoiding falls and injury and amazingly a better means of coping with emotional pain and sadness. Do something each day that takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you a better person. You may think “yeah right, like what” like a beautiful, cogniscent classic, yoga stretch. No one said it wouldn’t be a bit uncomfortable but knowing you are receiving a gift of knowledge thousands of years old makes up for it – not to mention the glorious side effects of butt and boobs lifting into the correct places. This applies to guys too – we don’t expect Ryk Neetling but a bit of abdominal and chest definition would be so cool. So get stretching – breathing all the while – and don’t forget you are as precious and special as those remarkable children that have filled your heart with so much love. Hope this doesn’t catch you at a time when you are ready to do serious physical damage to a pubescent know it all stressed matriculant!
Namaste
Lorna Bowman is an avid and animated practitioner and teacher of classic yoga
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