Yoga...a pathway to JOY
Yoga... It has become a household, mainstream word and concept. But yoga is many things, and much more than a way of exercise. It is a practice. It is a way of life. Yoga in the ancient Sanskrit language means "union". Yoga seeks to unite the body and the mind. It is an excellent system of exercises that is useful for restoring and maintaining health. And it has just as enormous effect on the mind as it does the physical body. The practice of yoga recharges the body, the brain and the spirit. It helps bring balance to the emotions and one's inner landscape. Yoga is a very personal quest that can go far beyond only the great physical benefits of the discipline. There are eight branches of yoga, many styles of practice as well as moral principles related to the spiritual nature of yoga. A dedicated practice makes a support system for life, rejuvenation of body, and refresher of spirit.
I have been practicing yoga for almost ten years. For me personally, yoga is a form or therapy. A therapy against fatigue, a way to renew energy, maintain health and happiness. Yoga is also a part of my lifestyle in that I take the benefits of what I learn and discover on the practice mat into my everyday life--to bring more awareness to my life. Yoga is also a part of my spiritual path and a way to touch the wellspring of my inner joy and bring the joy forth into my daily life. My practice of yoga and Buddhism flow into each other, each a bridge to the other to becoming one pathway that supports me always.
Over the years my practice has been done mainly at home. I prefer to practice on my own, where I can focus more closely on the nuances of each practice time and tailor make my own practice sessions within the Ashtanga, or classical yoga, tradition. I have a lot of ritual within my practice...lighting and burning incense and candles, my sandalwood mala ready for meditation times to count my breaths and calm my mind with the beads passing through my fingers. Each practice session is one of physical preparation through linked postures, flowing to a restorative, meditative time and prayer. I have a few CD's which offer guided yoga practices. One of my favorites is Yoga Sanctuary: A Guided Hatha Yoga Practice with Shiva Rea.
Something new to my practice is something so simple as these new pants! I made them over the weekend, modeling them slightly after a pair of pajama bottoms. They are soooo comfortable--I could live in these practice pants! The fabric is a little different for me--the large floral almost like feminine camouflage with it's swirls of dark colors of chocolate browns, black and the neutral tone-on-tone floral with a hint of a muted lime green.
Dear Husband and I sometimes practice yoga together, working through a series of postures and having some quiet, relaxation time after. It is a special time...I feel a big sense of connection when we practice together. It is usually only on weekends we can practice together though, so I am on the mat alone during the week. And that is OK too. All is good. All is JOY!
Wishing you all a joyful week...Namaste :o)
This week we've been having a taste of summer--warm temperatures and lots of sun! Our windows have been flung open to let the sun shine in and to whisk out the last of the winter staleness from indoors. Here at Chez Pink Purl, there's been a flurry of spring cleaning throughout the house. Curtains freshly laundered and ironed...ah, smells and looks good! Venetian blinds dusted and washed. There's not much about life I ever find dull or boring...But I have to say, washing venetian blinds is not on my list of favorite things to do--LOL! But washing windows, now that I don't mind. So every surface, every fiber in the house has been cleaned...All this has been happening since the beginning of the week and we're almost finished.
Many of you know already that I'm a proponent of all things natural, including natural cleaning. 
Happy weekend to you, my friends! :o)
Ah, spring...She is here at last! Real spring, you know the kind where the sun has that extra gleam and warmth...Birdsong greets you when you rise...And flowers...Oh,the flowers!...Enchantment at the moment is early spring blooms. Dear Husband and I spent much of the weekend outdoors. Some time spent in doing a big clean up of the garden/yard and making the small vegetable patch ready for sowing seeds soon. And there was time enough to sit out and just delight in some quiet moments in the sun, as well as feasting on the first meal eaten out-of-doors for this season. Food tastes so much better eaten outside! Anyway, here's what's happening in the garden...I'll just let the photos do the talking today! ;o) Oh, and Charlie was with us soaking up the sun! The last photo shows him in the stone/rock garden we've been working on--taking a dirt bath! Happy Days everyone! :o) 
