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Life is Like Paper
It is made by human beings
It is blank to begin with
Over time people leave their marks on it
It captures our stories and beliefs, as well as our creativity and expression
It can be strong, yet pliable
It has many uses and can be moulded
It can transform
It can be recycled
It can disintegrate slowly over time or go up in flames in a moment
When its gone, the stories and memories stay with us.
This is a repost for all my yoga friends out there. Enjoy!
In my years of practicing and teaching yoga I have found it to be a wonderful metaphor for life.
When practicing yoga I have learned so much about myself, life and living fully. My practice takes me to my Middle Ground. It centers me, rejuvenates, nourishes and makes me feel alive and connected to my higher Self.
Namaste
© Pokki ID 5339846 | Dreamstime Stock Photos
“As the great Confucius said, ‘The one who would be in constant happiness must frequently change.’ Flow.
But we keep looking back, don’t we? We cling to things in the past and cling to things in the present…
Do you want to enjoy a symphony? Don’t hold on to a few bars of the music.
Don’t hold on to a couple of notes. Let them pass, let them flow.
The whole enjoyment of a symphony lies in your readiness to allow the notes to pass…”
~ Anthony de Mello
Allow each moment of our lives to pass without attachment.
Embrace the constant changes.
Live life like a symphony.
Play on.
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Water teaches the wisdom of Tao:
It takes no pride in sustaining life.
Live near the flow.
Let the mysteries of life wash over you.
Be transparent.
Give part of yourself to everyone,
And remember every part is whole.
Allow natural order to lead the way
And do what must be done.
Do not fight the current,
And your head will remain above water.*
~ Lao Tzu
The wisdom of this passage from the Tao Te Ching touched me today. Water is a powerful metaphor for living life in harmony.
Pause and dive into the many layers of this wisdom 🌊
*Braun Jr., John; Tzu, Lao; von Bargen, Julian; Warkentin, David. Tao Te Ching (Kindle Locations 177-186). . Kindle Edition.
You are a part of the bigger picture.
Let the pieces come together.
Trust you will find your place.
Image from Google
There is a belief that many of us hold, that we have to progress or strive in life. We get meaning from meeting challenges and achieving our goals. But is this the truth?
Recently, I taught a Mindful Hatha yoga class with the intention of supporting people to grow in their asana practice. I wanted them to feel more confident in taking on postures that were out of their comfort zone.
I soon realized that participants have different intentions or needs. Not everyone wants to master a flow series or explore more challenging postures.
In fact, for practitioners who have come to yoga later in life, it may not be possible or advisable to attempt moves that put strain on wrists and knees, or require a strong core and flexibility…. And don’t get me started on trying heated yoga when your internal body temperature gauge is already worn out!
As we go through life our attitude and beliefs also change. Imagine your lifespan like a yoga class sequence.
Life is like … a yoga class
We start with the warm ups and prepare for later on.
We learn new skills and practice them to become more masterful.
We take on more challenging positions.
We keep learning and striving until we reach our peak.
Then we shift attention towards finding balance.
We slow down and tune in more to what is happening in our mind, body and inner being.
We relax.
We let go and take the time to nourish and restore ourselves.
Older yogis, like myself, may enjoy a good challenge now and again, but for the most part, we are at the stage in life where finding balance and appreciating the beauty of slowing down is more important. At the same time however, we must also maintain our strength and flexibility to stay healthy and mobile.
For me, I want my already worn parts to last me for as long as I need them! Muscle strains and tissue tears are no fun as we age, and can take a long time to heal.
Sometimes I forget. My job as a yoga teacher is to ensure my students are safe, and that they listen to what their body is telling them, not what the yoga teacher wants for them. Tuning in more to the participants and less to what you think they “should” be doing, is key to becoming a masterful yoga teacher.
Let us all encourage learning, and also be aware of when our own ego has taken over the class.
Namaste
Life is like … Pizza
It draws you in wanting more
When its good, its really really good, when its bad, its still pretty good
Some of us can’t get enough of it!
In life we are made up of the same basic ingredients and get dressed up sometimes
Some are more stodgy than others
Sometimes it can be cheesy, and at other times spicy
We ask the same questions about it – Why have only a slice, when I can have the whole pie?
We know in our heart of hearts it’s meant to be enjoyed 24 hours a day 😉
It seems to be even better in Italy!
