The Practice as the Teacher

I remember when I first started practicing yoga like many of us I used to check out the people around me in class. Some times I did it to admire what other people could do. Other times I did it with a competitive attitude as though I was in a competition with them. This second outlook helped me to push harder which did not necessarily turned out good for me in many occasions. Over time I realized that I had to really focus on my own practice. What this means for me is to observe how I am doing the a pose or how I am transitioning in or out of it. It also means to observe how I am breathing and how the breath affects a pose and vice versa. Whenever I am able to observe my practice in this way, the practice becomes a moving meditation. From this way of observing I have learned many things about myself.

I want to invite you this week to practice yoga as a way to get to know yourself. What I hope you recognize now or at some point is how what you learn on the mat can be very helpful in other aspects of your life. We eventually realize that by being present and observant in everything we do, our life itself becomes our teacher.

I look forward to seeing you all in class

Blessings

Jorge Nihāl