So here it is the Autumn equinox, and once again this time of year always is a good reminder what it means to be grounded. Summer is the time to be foot loose and fancy free, enjoying the sunny warm days, lakes and pools to cool us off, the lazy days of summer. Autumn on the other hand, for me, is a time to become grounded again. The mornings are cool and crisp, some days the glow from the sun shines the trees brilliant colors, the evening becomes darker sooner and back to the cooler nights. This is the time to come inside (from the outdoors and within yourself), reflect and reconnect with our own inner being. Yoga can help you make that reconnection or rediscovery. We all begin to settle back into our routines and hopefully yoga is part of that routine. With so many different styles of yoga popping up, keep in mind that yoga should never be a competition with yourself or anyone around you. It should always be your own personal journey finding your way to your inner peace and balance. As I write this, a friend of mine informed me that there is a club somewhere in the area that is going to start offering ‘competitive yoga’, I have to take a deep breath and let it all go. It makes me sad to think that this wonderful, pure, beautiful, practice is turning into something that if the founders of yoga 5,000 years ago saw what yoga has turned into, they to would have to take a deep breath and sigh. I know yoga has become very commercialized everyone wanting to jump on the band wagon, but ask yourself, what is yoga to you or what do you want out of a yoga practice. What makes me sad, is that so many yoga styles are approaching yoga as a ‘workout’, from my perspective and what I was taught by incredible world renowned teachers, yoga was never intended to be a ‘workout’. Yoga is a union, between body and mind, and the way we connect those two is through the breath, grounding, and through yoga poses that enable us to have the deeper release within and not something that looks cool from the outside. I truly feel, that if you want a deeper sense of yoga and yourself, we all need to take a step back, rediscover our breath, and allow ourselves to become grounded so that union of yoga can take place. This world is filled with so much stress and high pace moving, wouldn’t you think if everyone just relaxed and chilled out, maybe life wouldn’t pass us by so quickly. As I tell my students as they begin to relax, go inside of your own self, rediscover your own inner peace, your own well being, and allow your heart to be open….you will be amazed of what you might find or rediscover. So with Autumn upon us, take some time and reintroduce yourself with your own being, and become grounded again….
Om Shanti Shanti Om Peace ~ Namaste
Molly…I couldn’t agree more with this post! There are so many fitness-oriented Yoga classes in our country. As much as I try to remain open-minded about different styles, I can’t help feeling that a great deal of the essence of Yoga is lost. To echo your sentiment…connecting with the inner peace is of the utmost importance in the practice of yoga; Gaining strength and increasing flexibility is secondary. I feel fortunate to offer classes at your studio…
Peace and Love
Molly, You have given a very well-stated and true explanation of what is yoga is to the traditional practitioners such as us. I am saddened by this commercialization and ‘outer’ focus. My only hope is that these trend followers will accidentally find the deeper aspect of their practice and pursue their practice with teachers who understand and offer their students the authentic, inner practice of yoga and the peace it brings.