We move forward into a New Year. Someone said, “Prepare for tomorrow today.” Today is an important day! It holds with it the possibility of what may be tomorrow. Staying present, in our moment to moment actions in life, helps us not to miss what is before us.
Yoga teaches us to do this—how to stay present. And Yoga teaches us to practice, with it’s over 5000 year old philosophy—to stay in the present moment.
One tool we always have with us is our breath. When our mind races forward or backward in time, to our detriment, bringing our attention to our breath can create clarity and calmness and presence. Yoga also teaches us discernment—thoughts arise continuously, the mind is in constant motion—must I pay attention to each and every thought? Can I recognize my thoughts, without attaching my mind to them? Can I minimize how much attention I give to each thought? The many teachings of Yoga teach us that we learn how to help our minds through practice.
What tools does Yoga offer us for practice:
Practice of Asana, or Yoga posture
Practice of Pranayama, or control of energy
Practice of Meditation, or staying present with what is before us
Practice of Mudra, or holding on to the state of presence
Yoga is here now, and I presume it will always be. We can choose to begin anytime. Why not now!
