Slow It Right Down.

I’ve joined “Still Yoga” in Silverlake, Los Angeles. I’m really enjoying all of the Yogi’s teachings so far and I’ve had a different teacher every time. I first tried yoga in 1999 and became more committed in 2001. Since then I’ve moved states, moved yoga schools and had quite the exposure to different teachings between Australia and the USA. What I appreciated the most about this mornings teachings were the following lessons: “To not rush. To go slow: Slow absolutely everything in and about your movements and breath right down”. When the body slows down, so does the mind. It’s not uncommon to “power” through a yoga session, but this morning, every single movement of ours was encouraged to “slow down”. It took me a while to realise, but throughout this process, of course my breath slowed down, my mind switched off and before I knew it, the class was over and I barely recalled doing a “yoga” class. It was the first time that I was able to entirely “still” myself without too much focus on powering through the physical. So in your everyday life, don’t forget to slow it all down. Don’t wait for your meditation or yoga class to fall still. Do your very best to remind yourself to slow down your walking pace, how fast you eat, talk, shower, get dressed and all of the other daily activity we endure. Make more time to simply ‘be’.

Lessons.

We are all continually learning. I realised a long time ago that you can teach an old dog new tricks, as long as he is willing and open to grow. As long as he is aware...of who he is and of the ever changing world that surrounds him. Life's lessons are continually teaching and however insignificant an experience or moment may seem at the time, the impact it can have on our choices and our approach to life can be great. But to learn, we need to be open to change; to be bold and never scared to face something with a different attitude than what we have always known. Growth requires just a little provocation. Learn to be 'you' and do things 'your' way but always consider the impact on others, whilst remaining true to the person you are and choose to be. It is a choice. Wisdom comes through living each experience with awareness and being open to advice and external influence - within positive reason. We are continually growing into ourselves and hopefully better versions each time we massage in the new layers of daily experience. Like moisturiser; nourishing, feeding, thickening, yet softening the skin and beautifully refining the mind...there comes growth. Reflection is important, but never indulge in too much negative evaluation. Be happy with what we have experienced in the past and be proud of the awareness that increases our ability to do things with greater understanding next time. 

By Hayley Lentz.