General Discussion > Accountability and Motivation
Writing out the nonsense in my head.
heids:
My head is a busy, tangled, deep jungle. I've never been good at writing it out; with you holding me accountable, I want to build a habit of writing out some of my yoga-inspired deep thoughts every day!
Opening thoughts: Every day I practice, I'm a bit more convinced that yoga is the life path for me. Not as a hobby or exercise regime or instagram fodder, but a whole life path - involving the philosophy, the morality, the intense daily practice, and the yoga that lives in my everyday movements, thoughts and actions.
Its guidance on how to live shares a lot with my Christian upbringing, but it's different. That was externally imposed, from the outside in; I was taught moral principles and obligations I should follow. So it ends up a bit grudging and guilt-based and not really held deep down.
But I've personally embraced yoga. I genuinely internally want to follow yogic principles, from the inside out, because I discovered them for myself - a new perspective on the same old principles, I guess.
So for instance, I always had this Bible verse drummed into me:
--- Quote from: Philippians 4:8 ---Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
--- End quote ---
I always felt like I should, but it was an obligation. With yoga - I want to do this. I'm slowly finding myself increasingly focusing on things that help me grow, and away from things that are toxic, not out of guilt or obligation or shoulds, but out of simply wanting to.
I guess it's part of growing up and becoming independent. It's almost necessary that my chosen values come from a different place/system to what I was taught, so I can really own them, if that makes sense?
zofromuxo:
--- Quote from: heids on September 17, 2017, 06:18:35 pm ---My head is a busy, tangled, deep jungle. I've never been good at writing it out; with you holding me accountable, I want to build a habit of writing out some of my yoga-inspired deep thoughts every day!
Opening thoughts: Every day I practice, I'm a bit more convinced that yoga is the life path for me. Not as a hobby or exercise regime or instagram fodder, but a whole life path - involving the philosophy, the morality, the intense daily practice, and the yoga that lives in my everyday movements, thoughts and actions.
Its guidance on how to live shares a lot with my Christian upbringing, but it's different. That was externally imposed, from the outside in; I was taught moral principles and obligations I should follow. So it ends up a bit grudging and guilt-based and not really held deep down.
But I've personally embraced yoga. I genuinely internally want to follow yogic principles, from the inside out, because I discovered them for myself - a new perspective on the same old principles, I guess.
So for instance, I always had this Bible verse drummed into me:
I always felt like I should, but it was an obligation. With yoga - I want to do this. I'm slowly finding myself increasingly focusing on things that help me grow, and away from things that are toxic, not out of guilt or obligation or shoulds, but out of simply wanting to.
I guess it's part of growing up and becoming independent. It's almost necessary that my chosen values come from a different place/system to what I was taught, so I can really own them, if that makes sense?
--- End quote ---
Don't worry heids your making senses and good on you for taking the step into embracing Yoga as your lifestyle from the childhood embed Christian values. This isn't an attack on Christianity, but more on the ideals that people feel obligated to follow because of their childhood.
You have done what many people can't, won't, haven't but should do. So congratulations and I look forward to "yoga-inspired deep thoughts".
K888:
Yessss Heids 🙌
So keen to read your updates! <3
heids:
Since I stretch my hip flexors intensely, the next day my hips are sore and tight, and I have to spend a few minutes during practice gently easing myself into sitting cross-legged, then half-lotus, then lotus (basically, just sitting there).
My brain really revolts against this few minutes of doing seemingly nothing. It tries to come up with some way of multitasking to avoid wasting those minutes: I could exercise my arms, or post on AN, or read, or nut out some complex argument in my head. Surely this isn't the most efficient way to exercise!
Instead, I just sit there with the thoughts.
What am I in such a rush to do? Why the constant need to achieve and do and think more, and faster? What makes time spent mindfully and calmly and consciously a waste of time?
Really makes me question my priorities and behaviours. There's a lot of useless busy time I could spend doing nothing, but being mindfully there.
heids:
From yoga study (on the principles of saucha and santosha - cleanliness and peace), I've developed the habit of smiling and mentally wishing "May you have peace, love and wellbeing" (or a relevant variation) to people I pass and at the end of interactions. Just like, sending them the real desire for their good.
It doesn't do anything, but it makes me feel happier and more connected and more expansive and just good. You can't get angry at someone you've just wished love to, and when small annoying things happen in public, I just feel peace with it rather than irritation.
I enjoy interacting with strangers more since I started this, too.
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