So tomorrow I am teaching my yoga class and just sent out an e-mail saying "it takes a conscious effort to notice what is going on in our mind and body without judgment or wishing it was any different." Mindfulness is a big word now a days and in this rushed society we sometimes ignore to notice our body and/or are not aware of our thoughts. We just keep going and are reacting in situations we later regret and think how could I have handled that one better?
In a nutshell yoga gives us the timeout for ourselves to reflect and become aware of our habitual patterns, either physical or thought patterns. We have learned by accumulating these thoughts and believe in them or by avoiding certain situations to survive and feel at ease the best we can. I was told as a teenager that I can't write, am bad at it so started to avoid writing altogether. I have never questioned that belief until now and feel quite uncomfortable as I am writing this down. But I know that breaking through those belief systems there might be something better for me out there... and anyway what is the worst that is going to happen if someone judges? Or judge myself?
I invite you to start observing your habitual patterns during your yoga practice and wonder why you resist a pose.... what is it you are uncomfortable with in daily life?
If you would like to read more about this topic, there is good article on yoga international website, powers of observation.
https://yogainternational.com/artic…/…/powers-of-observation