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Saturday, March 2, 2013


Advancing in your yoga practice?

            Surely you can remember the very first time you set foot inside a yoga studio.  As silly as it may sound most of us felt nervous about it.  Not really sure of what to expect.  Where to place our mats and we all felt unsure of what to bring with us or we worked very hard at bringing someone along.  Then class began and most of us felt lost.  We felt as though class went too fast.  And on different occasions we felt the poses were held a little too long.  But by the end of your first class you realize how good you felt.  How well your body responded.  And once you left the studio you couldn’t stop thinking about all the things that were said, done, and energy you felt from everyone who was practicing.  You thought about it over and over and it’s a pretty cool feeling.

            Unfortunately, as you continue to practice and you start to advance in your practice you can easily lose yourself on just that part of the yoga.  You lose yourself on the next advancement you can achieve in your practice.  Your ego takes over and you’re constantly looking for the next class to practice in.  And while this is fine for practical reasons, it is more important not to lose sight of where you are now.  How much you’ve come along in your practice.  How much better you feel and look from that first class you once took.

            If you’re no longer taking medication as many of us have been able to do away with by practicing yoga, then I would say that’s advancement.  If you’re calmer in your life and kinder around the people you love or work with, then I would say that’s advancement.  If your confidence has increased and you no longer beat yourself up, advancement once again.  In the end, it’s more about learning to slow down and appreciate what we have.  Appreciate what we’ve done.  And be grateful for our blessings.
    
            So have fun exploring with your practice, but learn to put your ego away.  Learn to be present.  I always say after we finish a pose, that once it’s done, it’s done.  Let it go.  Don’t always look to the next pose or yoga class, instead try to be in the one you’re in.  If we achieve this much then maybe we can learn to be present when we’re with our love ones.  We can be present when we’re working.  When we’re driving.  When we’re eating….  You get I’m talking about?  Advancing in your yoga practice or in your life isn’t just about the next thing you can achieve.  Especially, if you’re sacrificing or missing out on everything that’s going on around you at that moment.  Life is just too short to miss out.  Be present instead.

To your health & success,
Marco Gamez             

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