After a long break over the summer it is getting close to the next part of the Awakening Heart Intensive with Sianna Sherman at Yoga Union. This has been a truly amazing summer for me. I have been busy teaching a whole lot and at the same time hiking, camping, swimming and enjoying the natural wonders around us in the Pacific Northwest with my fiancee. I felt a little overwhelmed at the beginning of the summer with all that I had taken on and wanting to spend time with my beloved. But, I have gotten used to a hectic schedule and found that through the sadhana practices I am able to do more than what I thought was possible and at the same time enjoy life.
Sianna says in the handout she gave us that, “Sadahna requires commitment, regularity, and aspiration in order to take root and stabilize the practitioner. It is easy to be overwhelmed by all the possible practices of sadhana, so it is best to choose a few practices and stick with them under the guidance of a teacher. Yogic practices provide a daily foundation for the overall integration and wholeness of life. They are essential in stabilizing the practitioner inwardly so the full gamut of life can be participated in with greater ease and joy.”
Along with my daily asana practice I feel that meditating, mudras and mantra have given me more focus and clarity. Every time I practice I feel like I have shifted my energy in a way that allows me to be more present in what I do and to be more open to the opportunities and possibilities that life has to offer me. I really like to practice first thing in the morning after waking up, but have allowed myself some flexibility in this based on how I am feeling, what is going on in my life, and what I have scheduled for the day. It is, also, nice to practice out in nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the city when possible.
Meditating has been so good for me, because it allows a little time each day to let go and not try to figure everything out, get everything done, or keep myself entertained. It helps me to move on from repetitive thought patterns. It allows me to erase the board, clear out the clutter and focus on what I really need to do or want to do. By doing these practices new ideas, thoughts, energy, and a renewed sense of purpose are allowed in to my life on a daily basis.
For me these are lifelong practices that are a part of doing constant maintenance on the self. This inner work allows me to do more of what I feel I am here to do in this lifetime, to be here for others and to be more fully present to experience life and live it to my fullest potential.
