2011- Year of the Yoga!

Intentions hold a lot of power for us. Without clear intentions, particularly on a ‘spiritual path’, I tend to get a little lost. So knowing how easily I make excuses for myself as to why I can’t practice yoga, I’m setting myself the intention of practicing yoga every day for a year. (Gulp). Yoga is experiential. Talking about it isn’t the bit that makes you feel good. Reading books about it won’t transform you. Doing it – only consciously doing it is when transformation can happen. If I keep it a secret and tell nobody I run the temptation on pretending it never happened. ‘What intention? Ra raa, chocolate, sleep . . .’

By yoga I mean yoga in its holistic sense – asana (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques) meditation and chanting. (I don’t believe it’s always appropriate to practice asana – if I’m exhausted, ill or angry, pranayama or meditation does a better job for me.) I believe there is a practice for every day. I’m fortunate enough to have the time at the moment to try and work out what that might be each day.

I know from practicing (and not practicing) over many years that yoga encourages my potential in all aspects of my life. It is never confined to my yoga mat. How I approach my yoga practice is reflected in how I approach life, from the menial to the significant. Technically you can be practicing yoga at any moment in your life. Yoga is awareness – conscious living. However, I find that with a time that is specifically set aside – a very conscious decision to ‘practice’ yoga - allows it to infiltrate my life and enhances my ‘off the mat’ awareness. Without this set aside time, life stuff happens and I often forget.

Having set aside time for yoga asana and pranayama every day for over 2 months, sometimes squished at the end of a bed in tiny hotel rooms in Delhi or on balconies crawling with ants and mosquitoes, I know how good a regular holistic practice makes me feel. I recognise the importance of discipline, and I’m ready to challenge myself. Spending time in the ashram with a daily holistic yoga practice allowed me to commit and feel completely present from moment to moment. Simple experiences in life were overwhelmingly beautiful and I know this is largely due to a committed yoga practice.

Without knowing what this year will bring, and with plenty of uncertainty and change ahead, I'm willing to be open, to try to adapt to my needs each day. I want to commit. I want to be present. I learn most from my practice on the days when I’m reluctant to do anything, when on waking up the thought of yoga is desperately unappealing. I never regret doing a yoga practice, or feel worse from it. So how do I motivate myself? These are the times that make it interesting. How do I live ‘at my best’, and what does that even mean?

I wont be ruthless with myself. Being forceful or dogmatic is not very yogic and is counter-productive. Forcing anything goes against the very nature of yoga – that of being open and flexible. Instead, I wish to cultivate enough awareness and discipline to at least give it a go. I’m happy to play, to experiment and maintain a sense of humour. And I’m happy to share honestly with you how that goes, in the hope that you might be inspired.

If you would like to join me with a similar intention – whether that is to do yoga for a month, for a week, to start your own self practice at home, or to just make it to a yoga class again, let me know! And for those of you coming to my classes, you may want to think of any intentions you have. My first yoga classes of the New Year will focus on these, so you will have the opportunity to work with them.

Have a very beautiful New Year. Gently expect the best of yourself. Always try to be grateful, especially in difficult times. We are all incredibly lucky. I have seen so many beautiful faces in the last 2 months in India, of people who own nothing, who have no families to love them, whose days revolve around survival. Each of us has the ‘basics’ in place. What are we going to do to explore our lives from now?

Hari Om! X x x