I try to get to yoga class once a week. When I’m pressed for time I’ll try to practice at home, but there are really too many distractions in my house for me to really focus. I’ll remember something I forgot to do or my phone will ding (or beep, honk, quack, etc.) with some kind of potentially-life-altering notification. Not a yoga-friendly environment.
So I like to go to class where I can walk in with just a mat and a bottle of water. Much better.
Image via lotusmoonmansfield.com
The class I go to most regularly has a fabulous teacher who makes the practice both physically challenging and spiritually fulfilling. When I first started practicing yoga, I did it because I was a runner with tight legs. I wasn’t too keen on all the “hippy dippy meditation” stuff. But the more I do it, the more I appreciate the chance to listen to my body, think about what’s stressing me out, and use the workout to better align my body and mind.
During each lesson, our teacher always tells us at some point to take a moment to give thanks to our Creator for everything we have and the chance to practice today. Just being able to walk out of the house and twist around on a mat for an hour is not something everyone is able to do… something easily taken for granted. She also tells us to take a moment to think of someone, and send “love and light” to that person who needs it.
For some reason, EVERY time we do this I think of someone who makes me unhappy. Someone who let me down, or belittled me, or is just plain annoying me as of late. No matter how hard I try, they just pop into my head. I don’t think of my dear fiance, or my wonderful parents. Nope… it’s someone who makes my blood boil.
Well, when I was in class a few days ago, she actually TOLD us to think of someone who is a challenge in our lives, and send THAT person some love and light. She said many times, those “difficult” people are put in our lives for a reason, or to make us stronger. It’s those people who need our positive energy the most.
Now I don’t know that our “love and light” exercise actually does anything out there in the universe. But after class this week I had a better understanding of what it’s all about. I will continue to think of that person who bugs me the most at any given time, and send love and light their way. Even if they never send it back in my direction… they probably need it more than I do!
