There are times in this journey of mine that I am simply tired and depleted, and I have brief moments of defeat when I think - "What is this all about? Why do I bother? Who am I kidding?" Sometimes they happen when, after several days of feeling good, I wake up in the kind of pain that is impossible to reason. Or they happen when I reflect on how long I have been sick, and how long it is going to take me to heal. Sometimes they happen for no specific reason at all. I just get tired of the work, tired of the journey, and I just want to stop. But I don't stop - for too long anyway. And … [Read more...]
What is Your Intention?
Each time at the start of a yoga practice, the instructor asks that we set an intention for that day; "What is it you would like to focus on today to get the most out of your time here?" I usually struggle to find my intention and get caught up in trying to find the right answer. I pressure myself into thinking there is a really cool and purposeful thing I should be focusing on, and if I don't come up with it, I am missing out on some great ancient yoga secret. Sometimes I try to set grandiose intentions - freedom from all pain, anxiety, and conflict in my life, from here until eternity. … [Read more...]