2015 - My Year of Zen
February 28, 2015

This morning I did a 30 minute abdominal yoga session.  Jim walked through the room and said, "Wow, you're sweating.  Is it really that hard?"

The answer is, "Yes".  Sometimes. Depending on the pose, depending on the length of time you are asked to hold the pose, etc.  

I think he gets it now but it also made me realize that even I originally thought yoga was about relaxation and mediation.  Not sweating.

Take the pose in the photo above.  Looks easy, right?  Stick your arm out, lift a leg and grab your foot.  How hard is that?  Ha!  I can only  "kinda" do this pose.  My leg isn't as high, my arm is normally against a wall for balance and I can hold the pose for well, not too long. 

However, I am learning and I am getting more flexible  (plug to Debbie Daugherty for being such a patient and wonderful instructor!) and I am learning a lot!

Yoga is not just about poses though.  I am reading so many wonderful books on yoga and meditation.  The beliefs, the balance of not only body but mind also are all teaching me so much.  

Today I read the following comment:

"In yoga the goal is to become a cleaner person, both physically and mentally to serve the world and our life with great purpose and meaning.  "

All I can say is PERFECT!

I also read about the Yama and Niyamas.  Again, these are things I have felt in my heart for a very long time.  It's nice to see these in print. :-)

NAMASTE