One
of the most interesting and innovative bands to come out of the Australian/New
Zealand rock scene back in the 80’s were called “Split Enz”. Two brothers Tim
and Neil Finn formed the band, wrote many hits, were hugely popular down under
and eventually reformed as Crowded House (initially with Tim). What do they have
to do with yoga, you might be asking? It
has to do with my thought of the week and as I have been thinking about it, it
reminded me of a song Split Enz had called “Six Months In A Leaky Boat”.
of the most interesting and innovative bands to come out of the Australian/New
Zealand rock scene back in the 80’s were called “Split Enz”. Two brothers Tim
and Neil Finn formed the band, wrote many hits, were hugely popular down under
and eventually reformed as Crowded House (initially with Tim). What do they have
to do with yoga, you might be asking? It
has to do with my thought of the week and as I have been thinking about it, it
reminded me of a song Split Enz had called “Six Months In A Leaky Boat”.
And
you’re still wondering…Split Enz…yoga…leaking boats…what’s the
connection?
you’re still wondering…Split Enz…yoga…leaking boats…what’s the
connection?
Here
it is. One of the keys to any practice, including a yoga practice is
consistency. Turning up time and time again on your mat, going through repeated
exercises of breath, movement and awareness. It often begs the question, “how
much is enough?”. And that’s where seepage comes in. As soon as you embark on
the journey of a yoga practice, the moment you set yourself onto your mat, I
believe you are forever on the journey. It is a process of unfolding, opening
and growing awareness.
it is. One of the keys to any practice, including a yoga practice is
consistency. Turning up time and time again on your mat, going through repeated
exercises of breath, movement and awareness. It often begs the question, “how
much is enough?”. And that’s where seepage comes in. As soon as you embark on
the journey of a yoga practice, the moment you set yourself onto your mat, I
believe you are forever on the journey. It is a process of unfolding, opening
and growing awareness.
Even
if you only practice yoga on an irregular basis, you will begin to have seepage.
Some of the thoughts, ideas and practices will begin to ooze into your everyday
awareness. We often procrastinate doing something because we are unable to fully
commit to doing it…the all or nothing syndrome. But, once you begin to learn
the tools of yoga, they begin to seep into your day.
if you only practice yoga on an irregular basis, you will begin to have seepage.
Some of the thoughts, ideas and practices will begin to ooze into your everyday
awareness. We often procrastinate doing something because we are unable to fully
commit to doing it…the all or nothing syndrome. But, once you begin to learn
the tools of yoga, they begin to seep into your day.
Things
such as:
such as:
1.
Taking a deep breath before answering the phone.
Taking a deep breath before answering the phone.
2.
Pausing before taking your first bite of a meal to inhale the
aromas.
3.
Thinking about your standing posture as you are waiting in line at the store or
bank.
4.
Allowing yourself five minutes to just sit and do nothing.
5.
Recognizing when your self condemning thought is just that…a thought that can
be shifted into a self supportive one.
6.
Giving someone 100% of your attention when listening to them
speak.
7.
Feeling gratitude for someone or something.
8.
Moving your body in a natural and easy way.
These
are just a few simple things that can easily leak into your life. And what is
the ingredient that they all have in common?
Awareness.
Obviously
we do as much as we can. If we seek to dive deeper into our practice we can
certainly dedicate more time to doing so. We can open the flood gates and let
our practice become a way of living. But if that’s overwhelming, try spending
six months on a leaky mat instead…
we do as much as we can. If we seek to dive deeper into our practice we can
certainly dedicate more time to doing so. We can open the flood gates and let
our practice become a way of living. But if that’s overwhelming, try spending
six months on a leaky mat instead…
