Reading from Wednesday August 21, 2013 yoga class
..."but if we are really interested in practicing Yoga, we can give our actions an umbrella of intention and achieve so much more with the same basic material.
Whether we've been practicing for two weeks or twenty years, we can remind ourselves of the larger purpose of Yoga right at the beginning of every practice. Our intention doesn't have to be grand, but it does need to be sincere. We may have a desire to release pent-up anxiety and to feel more relaxed in life. Maybe we've got back pain and we'd like to heal our injury, or we've become overweight and we've made a commitment to become healthier. We might want to clear our mind so we can move into the day without yesterday's baggage weighing us down. I cannot stress enough the importance of setting an intention at the beginning of practice, for this sets the stage for all that will follow. When we set the table for honored guests, we wipe the table clean, remove clutter, and arrange the mats, plates, cutlery, and glasses in a way that is pleasant to the eye. We light the candles, and when our friends arrive a mood has been created that influences what may happen in our coming together. How different our friends would feel if they sat down to a table covered in crumbs, old newspapers strewn in disarray, and a heap of knives and forks! This too sets a stage for the tone of our gathering. So when we begin practice with a conscious intention, we are carefully setting the stage for what is to come.
In the middle of our practice, we can pause frequently to feel the effects of our practice. Is this practice moving me toward balance and ease? Is my mind state more settled, or am I becoming more agitated through my practice? As you practice you can notice your physical, mental and emotional state and adjust what you are doing and how you are doing it to let your actions match with your intention."
From the book "Bringing yoga to life" by Donna Farhi
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