ASMR.
Today I was greatly inspired because it is the International Day of Yoga.
So it's a really nice opportunity to have our spiritual chat.
A great opportunity to talk a little bit and celebrate for the International Day of Yoga.
So for those who might not know exactly what yoga is,
It is an ancient physical,
Mental,
And spiritual practice that originated in India.
The word yoga derives from Sanskrit.
That is an ancient language in India as well.
And yoga actually translates into yoke,
To yoke,
To join,
Or to unite.
We can unite our body,
The actions of the body,
The breath of the body,
And our consciousness,
Or our minds.
What is happening in our minds.
Due to a western portion of our planet,
The Western nations,
And the popularity of yoga,
It's often misunderstood as only physical poses,
Or actions,
Or exercises.
And at its worst,
Like some kind of form of gymnastics.
Not that gymnastics is a bad thing by any means,
But yoga is not just gymnastic.
Impressive poses.
These movements or postures are only a small part of what yoga is as a system,
As a way of life,
As a system of thought,
As a philosophy,
That you can really put into action in your life.
So what I thought to do was create a little list of some of the things you could do,
Even today,
That could be considered yoga.
And these things don't require a yoga mat,
Or any special,
Expensive yoga clothing.
All of these things are really Western constructs.
Number one,
Take a walk without the disturbance of your phone,
Or the distraction of your phone.
Simply notice your breathing.
Could be a really sweet,
Simple,
And profound yoga practice.
I'll make some ASMR use of my nails on the notebook.
You could sit and rest under a tree,
Or in any comfortable spot,
Free of distraction.
And notice yourself,
Your thoughts,
Take in your natural surroundings.
Simple.
Relax somewhere,
And just notice yourself,
And all that's around you.
Sounds like good yoga to me.
Okay,
That was number two.
Number three,
Commune with nature in some way.
Spend some quiet time with a pet,
Or in a garden,
Maybe even cooking.
Simply be immersed in the present moment with whatever natural thing you're doing.
Number four,
Relates a little bit to this connecting with others in a heart-centered way.
You could have a phone call with a friend.
Remember,
Maybe someone you talk to a lot,
Or someone who you always talk about wanting to talk to more,
But you never get the chance to do it.
Well,
Maybe today's the day to call that person,
And during your phone call,
Really listen to them,
Really be with them,
And take in the specialness of being in relationship with someone,
And taking the time.
That sounds like lovely yoga to me.
Spend some time reading,
Or writing,
Or even singing afterward.
Spend some quiet time reflecting on what your body feels like afterward,
Or what your mind space kind of feels like afterward.
It's nice because all of these have kind of a some time and space,
Physically carving out some space to be,
Some space to take up,
And traverse,
And really carving out some time.
And normally we don't,
We're so ungenerous with ourselves,
And we don't afford ourselves time.
Just an observation as I read through these.
Okay,
Number six.
Do any of your usual exercise or physical activity.
Be fully awake in your senses,
And practice non-judgment,
And kindness to yourself throughout the session.
Notice how that goes.
I have a story about this one.
It was kind of an important moment for me after I really started practicing yoga,
Especially the more kind of reverent and philosophical yoga like this,
That I could really start to embed into my life,
My daily life practice.
After I started that,
I returned to a ballet class.
I've been taking ballet classes since childhood,
And then in college at Dance Conservatory,
And then professional,
You know,
Ballet classes for contemporary dancers.
Well,
After studying yoga in earnest,
When I returned to ballet class,
It was a completely different experience.
I noticed how much judgment,
Almost playing of old tapes about how not good enough I am,
Or oh,
This leg only,
You know,
Does this.
I wanted to do that.
I'm pushing myself this way or that way,
Or hearing the voice of mean teachers.
Not all my ballet teachers were mean,
But some.
You can come across some mean ones.
When I infused my yoga practice,
One,
Just attention to breathing,
To the delightfulness of being with piano music and standing at the bar and not pushing or forcing myself or beating myself up in any way,
When I really approached ballet with the yogic mindset,
I had such a different experience.
It was a much kinder experience.
It was a much richer experience.
It just really changed both my opinion or the importance of yoga and of what it could be to apply those things to anything.
Imagine taking a bike ride,
A strong weight training session,
Anything,
Partner dancing.
Imagine weaving something and applying this attention to the moment and to sensation,
To your own sensation and presence during it.
See how it informs that thing you're doing and yourself.
Okay,
Now I'm done with number six.
Okay,
Number seven.
Spend time giving your full attention,
Your full and relaxed attention to someone that you live with.
If you live with a roommate or family members or a partner,
How can you be more available to them in a way just in your capacity to listen and take them in?
Listen is a verb.
It could also be see them.
If I think about more inclusive language so that it's not just about the act of hearing or seeing,
Notice how you experience them in whatever way you connect or experience someone.
Now that number seven one I think relates a lot to number eight.
And so I've written perhaps number seven is best achieved by being more relaxed,
Present and loving to yourself.
Is there an aspect of your body,
Mind or spirit that could use more care?
Take a step toward that today,
Just a little step.
Or if you can't take the step toward that today,
Plan how you might do that.
Tomorrow.
I want to repeat that one because I wanted to be really clear.
I'm going to say it again.
So perhaps number seven,
Which is how can you spend more time giving your full and relaxed attention to someone that you live with?
If you live with a roommate,
Family member,
Partner,
Etc.
How can you be more available to them and experience them more fully?
That's number seven.
And then I propose in number eight that you might be more able to take in someone else that you live with.
Maybe if you don't live with someone at home,
Someone at work or at school,
You can take in others more when you have filled your own cup.
So number eight says by being more relaxed,
Present and loving with yourself.
And what does that actually look like?
Is there an aspect of your body,
Your mind or your spirit that could use more care,
More attention,
Maybe just a little more time?
And so achieving that is just to take one little step toward that in your day.
And on this day,
Or if you don't have time to take that step,
Even just take a little time to plan what that might be tomorrow or over the weekend,
Etc.
Now this is really a bit of advice giving on my part because I have directly experienced that when I'm in practice with myself,
With some of these deeper examples of self-care,
I notice how much more patient I am with my husband.
With my husband.
How much more I tolerate just things that other people do and the normal things that people need.
I'm more appreciative of my pets.
It's a direct correlation for me.
The moment I'm giving myself more,
I'm absolutely able to not necessarily send it away to others,
But actually just be able to take in other people.
But just to say,
To bring it back.
These examples that I've given are a very wonderful example of another Sanskrit word,
Or Sanskrit-derived word,
Sadhana.
It's such a beautiful word.
S-A-D-H-A-N-A,
Sadhana.
Sadhana translates to daily spiritual practice.
The root word that it comes from in Sanskrit is sadhu,
Which means go straight to the goal.
Building a sense of robust health and participation in your own life,
That's sadhana.
That's sadhana.
I often think about people who have those routines like,
You know,
Sweeping after dinner or always making sure dishes are done before you go to bed.
That feels like a very strong sadhana to me.
So,
On this International Day of Yoga,
I wish for you presence.
Maybe just a little more ease and groundedness in your life.
I didn't mention in my list any examples of justice or,
You know,
If you're on a path of advocacy or activism,
You living that truth and taking action is another beautiful aspect of life.
Practice and,
You know,
With these times as they are as complex and violent and confusing as they are,
If you are involved in that kind of fight or activism or if you're not,
I think either way.
I wish for you to have a sense of contentment with your self and your connection,
Your part of the vast network of life that is this world we live in.
And so with that,
I would like to end with a little bit of sound vibration that perhaps you might rest with or meditate to.
And the word namaste is actually on the Indian content,
A greeting that in my understanding someone of a younger generation might actually kind of salute or greet their elder.
Salute or greet their elder.
And there is also another meaning,
Which is,
It can be a salutation at the end of a yoga practice that translates to the light within me,
Acknowledges the light within you.
And so in a more Western context,
Namaste is said at the end.
May all our lights shine brightly,
That inner light and the light of our hearts.
And with that,
I'll say namaste.
Shanti,
Shanti,
Shanti.
Shanti.
