GRATITUDE MONTH: DAY 11: “The poses are learnt in Yoga Practice. Calmness and serenity is learnt in Meditation. Through this learning process, the journey of life full of love, compassion, kindness, gratitude is unlocked.”― Purvi Raniga
There are other practices that, for me, include the two mentioned here. Yoga poses are not the only thing yoga teaches. The Yamas and Niyamas are vital to my life as a spiritual being. 4000 or 5000 years ago, yogis were not allowed to practice or even learn poses until they had mastered the lifestyle of yoga, which has little or nothing to do with the poses.
The poses are a physical set of tools to allow the body to function well enough in meditation. Western culture has destroyed this beautiful cultural tradition (along with SO many others!) by adapting the poses to be groovy and bendy. All beside the point. It takes up to 10 years to master the breathing techniques alone.
There is so much to learn about how to be grateful. The most important thing, for permanent mental and emotional change to take place is that it must be consistent performed, over long periods of time, without stops and starts to completely alter the brain and mindset from negative outlook to positive outlook.
The creative side of the brain becomes engaged and creativity flows freely when the practice is done over long periods of time, years. The optimistic part of the brain becomes strengthened and operates more freely than the negative and analytical side. This is the way to abolish use of Ego strengths rather than heart strengths. A deep spiritual practice is what we are here to get, and yet I find that I do not meet many who ever even try. So sad.
Dolphin Hug 