Gotta Have Faith

Today is Saturday, and our first group has left Costa Rica.  It was a powerful week for me and I had several realizations. 

As I mentioned we began each day at 6:30 a.m. with meditation and yoga philosophy.  Then we focused on our Stationary Sequence (SS), practicing the series of asanas in sequential order twice a day.  Within the Empowered Yoga Path, the SS serves as the foundation.  By practicing the same postures over and over again, the student begins to train the mind and the body in a way that creates balance between the right and left sides of the body.  This leads to cohesiveness throughout the legs, pelvis, spine, shoulders, arms and head.  Through practicing the asanas over and over it is only natural for students to develop an understanding of the landscape of their body.  Unfortunately, some students also form an aversion to certain asanas.  At this point the student has developed an orientation to their body and mind.  For many, this can be scary and overwhelming – you can choose to ignore the imbalances and give a half-hearted effort or you can make the decision to take a step further in your life and work with what is.

 

By working with what is and embracing the areas within our bodies that need to be strengthened and balanced, you immediately begin working with your mind.  The body is metaphorical for the mind is truly one in the same.  My friend Rolf Gates says, “If I don’t want to work with my bodily imbalances then working in other areas off the mat is just not possible.”  Our imbalances become the gateways into our learning and growth.  Along the way we begin discovering who we really are.

 

This week at Costa Rica I witnessed a group of mature individuals become familiar with their landscape.  They developed a right view by showing up and not shrinking back.  They gave all they had and the results at the end of the week were amazing.  I am very happy and humbled to have been with them to witness their greatest and to see the possibilities of the human spirit.

 

As for me, today is day 19 of the yoga challenge.  I have practiced 19 times in the last 19 days.  This past Wednesday I practiced twice in one day.  On Wednesdays, I encourage people to go see the beautiful countryside of Costa Rica.  For me, it was a day of practice and reflection.