Over the summer for some of us our routines are
changed and disrupted, we might visit different places and surroundings and
receive different stimulations such as tastes, smells and noise. Children are on holiday so for parents the
regular day is different. We might
journey to visit family and friends; summer can be full of fun but can also
bring a disruption to our practice.
Now summer is coming to an end and we are in
transition time again as we reflect over the last few weeks and all the faces
that we met, some of us may not want to end the summer fun, whilst others may
be eager just to get back to routine and back on the mat. However yoga has many forms and many
practices and we should remember that it is not all about the body and the hour
and half class with this teacher and that teacher. Yoga is an attitude. Giving somebody time, to sit with them,
listen to them, to brighten their day can be yoga. Eating a slice of cake with your mum, even
though you really don’t want the cake, you know that she does and will cherish
that moment, can be yoga. Not only
should our bodies become more flexible with our practice but also should our
minds, actions and emotions. To live in
awareness, to have awareness, as a famous poet once said; ‘To suck all the
marrow out of life.’ To simply know life
and make a moment profound is yoga.
So when we simply can’t get on the mat due to
the demands of those that surround us, it is ok we just have to shift our awareness. We could be anywhere but to be aware of the
breeze that touches your face, or the sound of a bird, or a beautiful smile
that you have put on somebody’s face, is yoga.
To really have awareness and to feel awareness makes us invincible; as
the Bhagavad Gita describes – ‘Weapons cannot cut it, fire cannot burn it,
water cannot wet it, even wind cannot dry it.
It is not subject to being cut, burnt, wet or dried. It is beyond time, all pervasive, immovable
and immutable.’ 11.23
And when we have true awareness then we are in
the yoga. Awareness the true ‘I’ is not
limited by time, qualities or space, it just is, in all its joy and
beauty. So as we all return back to our
homes, jobs, schools or start new beginnings in new places let us shine in our beauty,
in our awareness, there is nothing else to do, just sit, be still, be quiet
even in noise we can be in peace if we find our awareness. All joy is there.
And if starting again after a break or for
nervous children starting new schools, or classes here is a great Ayurvedic tip
to reduce anxiousness. For kids, put a
few drops of Mummy’s perfume on a small piece of cloth that they can smell
during the day when they are feeling a little shy or overwhelmed, it will
really help to relieve those nerves. This
works for adults too- a few drops of essential oils onto a hanky or something
to hand works a treat. Ylang ylang,
lavender, chamomile and patchouli are great soothers and helps us relax.
So Yoga can be anywhere anytime, a simple smell
as long as we are aware!
Om shanti shanti shanti Om
Peace to all
Mangala / Nicky.
Image above taken in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda.
