I was once told that a “yogi” always questions. That’s the beginning to “wake up” and to question our world rather than accepting someone else’s word or opinion, but what is left out is the next step. What is the purpose of a question, but to seek or allow the answer?
Many of us (at a certain age!) are drawn to the yoga asana practice (physical poses) because we have something physical for which we seek relief. Low back pain, restriction in movement due to stiff joints or for me neck pain from a ruptured C 5-6 disc. Practicing the poses with focused alignment and building strength in weak or under used muscles is the best way to support movement and freedom in the body. At 58 years with 26 years of practice I’m sold that yoga works!
When we are practicing yoga we are “waking up”, becoming mindful and learning to ask questions about our experience. What I mean is simple – is our right hamstring more flexible then the left? Does one hip have greater range than the other? What about the low back in a forward fold in relation to the rotation of the pelvis? You get the message. (On a side note this is what I absolutely love! I could spend hours looking at the body & its movement or lack thereof. This is how with first awareness and practice we can make changes to feel good again!)
OK so that is a solution for the physical, but what about the mental; the day to day stresses that cause “pain” when life doesn’t go quite our way. How does yoga help with this?!? Initially the physical practice helps for many reasons. Body pain is reduced or diminished. And just the act of breathing deeply and moving the muscles of respiration relaxes the mind. There are a number of chemical reactions such as the release of endorphins, but I’ll leave that for another discussion.
But how do we take it to the next level? How do we find a little more peace in our days? This is where the concept of mindfulness comes into the equation. The mind is always pulling us back into past events, upsets & dramas or hurling us into the future where we create predicted outcomes. Or we are merely busy, busy, busy and don’t pause to see the world around us and the people we share it with. This is where the play “Our Town” has inspired me and answered some questions.
Did you read “Our Town” in high school or see the 1977 adaptation with Hal Holbrook in the role of Stage Manager? I was reminded of the play reading the January 10 passage in Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. In her passage was the reminder to enjoy the simple moments of the day and “how much the living take for granted”. I’m rereading the passage now and getting goose bumps, for we can “no longer afford to throw away even one ‘unimportant’ day.”
The 2 hour play is in three acts, and if time limits you watch the last 30 minutes (act 3) and I guarantee you will feel a little more awake to this wonderful world in which we live. I’ve watched it 3 times in the past month and each time there is another take away or lesson learned.
Click here to watch it free on YouTube link
I look forward to hearing your experience! Perhaps you can share something that I have missed. Comment below or email me Beth@BethGrahamWellness.com