Do you sometimes feel as if you’re going through your daily activities like a robot… just going through the motions as if you are on “auto-pilot”. I know I find myself sometimes falling into this mode when I am driving a well-known route – I don’t even have to think about it, I just drive and somehow after about 15 minutes, I’m at my destination!
And that’s just one common example. It is easy to become a creature of habit – to go through our actions without being fully present. But how enjoyable is that? How rewarding is that? How enriching is that?
Throughout the past 20+ years, one of the most important lessons that I’ve learned from my yoga practice is the ability to experience “AHA” moments. Moments of self-discovery where…
- I am fully “A”ware of myself and my surroundings
- I “H”onor where I am in the moment
- I have complete “A”cceptance without judgment.
When this happens, it feels like… “AHA!” 🙂
These are such important concepts that before I ever teach a single yoga pose to my students, I first discuss the principles of “AHA” – Awareness, Honor, and Acceptance.
Let’s begin with the first “A” in “AHA”… Awareness. We spoke before about going through our actions as if on “auto-pilot” – mind and body feeling disconnected rather than on the same plane of consciousness. Why is this? Two key reasons:
- We find it all too easy to get distracted by our thoughts of past and future and
- We allow ourselves to act from memory or habit because it’s easier to do so.
And as we allow ourselves to be distracted (going from one thought to the next, wasting vital mental energy) and as we continue to rely on habitual actions, we reinforce this viscous cycle that makes it even harder to stay in the present and leaves us feeling mentally & energetically drained.
Also in the process, we potentially miss out on experiencing and enjoying things due to this lack of awareness. When I’ve driven to my destination on “auto-pilot”, I’m sure there have been plenty of beautiful vistas or interesting places I may have missed seeing along the way!
How do we break this cycle? First and foremost, we must recognize what we’re doing. Identification is the first step to addressing any issue/condition.
Then what? It’s simple – just BREATHE! The quickest, easiest and most effective way to bring the mind back to the present moment is to take some nice deep breaths, bringing your attention to your breath. Our breath is extremely powerful in it’s ability to bridge the gap between the mind and the body.
Now I know what some of you may be thinking… “I can take a deep breath and that will help me return to the present, but a few minutes later, I’m lost in my thoughts again!”
The final component to really being present is the willingness to “let go”. As you take your deep breaths, be willing to surrender those thoughts that bind you. This idea of detachment or letting go is perhaps the most challenging to most people. We feel that if we “hold on” to our thoughts that somehow we can control them; however in actuality, when we hold on to our thoughts (and even emotions), they end up controlling us!
When we practice yoga, we are continually practicing Awareness. Each time we do a pose, we pay attention to how we move our bodies, we observe the sensations in the active and passive muscles, we work with our breathing to maintain this presence of mind and we surrender whatever comes up that does not serve us in that moment.
And just like anything else, the more we practice the easier it gets! This on-going process becomes the underlying norm rather than the active effort.
Now I’m not suggesting that once you practice yoga, you’ll NEVER be distracted by your thoughts… after all, we are human. 🙂 However, you will definitely find it easier to stay focused or bring yourself back into the present moment when you do feel distracted.
And as you progress in your regular yoga practice, your Awareness is honed and heightened to deeper levels of your physical and energetic being – it truly becomes a wonderful journey of self-discovery.
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Check out this clip on Awareness from Anyone Can Do YOGA‘s Yoga Essentials-Fundamentals DVD and for more information visit www.anyonecandoyoga.com: