Liberation

I will be the first to say in so many ways that yoga has freed me. It has taught my that I don't always need to try so hard, that perfection is like a white rabbit some people keep chasing and that boundaries are what we make them. We get trapped inside our perception of our minds and bodies; telling ourselves the "proper" ways to look, think, and feel. It can all get so overwhelmingly exhausting. In this self-made odyssey of mine, I've discovered the beauty of knowing that I am who I am unabashedly with no apologies. Layers of self-awareness are peeled back with each passing day and I realize that I am passionate about the things that make my life incredible, that I have a healthy appetite for life, and I'm not afraid of it in all it's angry, crazy, sad, sexual, moving, exciting, sensual, mentally stimulating and even horrible experiences. And I owe a lot of my personal acceptance to yoga. Every time I crease into an imperfect Standing Forward Bend, or turn into a flawed Warrior 1, I know that I'm creating unique parts of me that make me special and wonderful in my own way.

The Best Yoga Ever!

Today was one of my best yoga practices ever! I'm so excited about it truly. Taking a few days off has been great for me. I was able to more clearly assess the improvements I've made in my form, flexibility and endurance. I can envision certain poses that seemed unattainable as within my grasp and that gives me the heart to keep succeeding. It's amazing that as I relaxed into each of the asanas in a custom impromptu Vinyasa, I was moving with a certain seamlessness and grace that I don't remember possessing before. This is a real turning point for me. I can't explain it, but a pro instructor-worthy yoga practice seems so much more attainable. I can't wait to see where I'll be in a year!

The Subject Of Improving

I'm getting better with each passing day at my yoga practice. I took some time off to reflect on the benefits my mind and body have gained. I would say they have both learned to soar beyond their boundaries equally well. When my spirits are down, and I feel alone, I turn inside myself to the place where my true strength resides. It's becoming easier and easier to do that even as the road seems to become harder and harder. I've found that one of the best ways to deal with trials in life is to just let them go. Deal with their experience, glean what you can from it and then move on.Today was particularly hard for me. It's the anniversary of my brother's death 4 years ago. I will say that I've found that even on the days where the road is the rockiest, looking back on his brief life gives me sadness as well as joy for the time that I was able to enjoy him in this world. So this day is dedicated to all the happiness that he brought into my existence. Rest in peace big brother.

Photo Credits: Dan

What I Learned

I've discovered in the past few days that it is important to stay focused. I'm striving to do that even though keeping my eye on the ball has proved to be more difficult then I previously thought. I've had to accept the curve balls that life has thrown my way and step out of the rubble stronger each time. I'm slowly but surely recovering from my anemia it seems and stepping back into the ring. While I got knocked out in the first round, the second has me ready to go with he best of them. Tripping and stumbling has failed to stop me.

Photo Credits: Xedos4

Loving My Failures

Today was hectic and busy, but in the evening I found the time to practice my yoga and meditation. I noticed that my asanas have become more effortless and graceful, and that I'm easing further into new realms of flexibility. It has been completely amazing for me to continue on this road to enlightenment. I've learned a lot about myself and my commitment to repairing the parts of me that are "broken". I've begun to celebrate the areas where I am abnormal and rejoice in my mistakes because these spaces of me teach me how to be vulnerable and fragile in a way where I can learn and grow and become stronger. My body has taught me the virtue of patience and fortitude. I know it even more intimately now and I'm allowing myself to get up close and personal with my mind, soul, physical person, and spirit. Meditation has proven to me a powerful teacher for me today. I could visualize clearer then ever while meditating on my chakras today. In particular my Third Eye chakra seem to be blooming and open and my root chakra as been improving. I'm doing all I can to stimulate a healthy and steady flow through my energetic body as possible. I just know that I've made progress and more importantly that I'm changing for the better.

Short And Sweet

I'm writing this post actually on May 25th even though the Blogger date reads different. This is largely because I tried to post to this link via my cell phone and my cell wouldn't let me do that for some reason. The other reason is because for some days now I could not log into my Blogger account to post anything. So I'm going to make today's post short and sweet and say that I really missed posting to my yoga blog because it has kept me centered, but I'm also glad that I had a break because it gave me a fresh perspective on my practice and my meditation. I've also missed a few days of yoga because I've been under the weather and I simply needed the downtime. Now I'm back  and ready to start blogging away! So now it's time to warm up the mat and limber up my fingers for flying across the keyboard again. No more slacking for me because I'm back in the thick of it!

Real Progress

Yesterday evening I had what was probably one of my most fulfilling and inspiring meditation sessions ever. I had just completed about 30 minutes of a yoga practice where I could just see how far I've come in the last 3 months; even though I missed a day! I loved the way I felt an innate sense of calm wash over me. The room was a hush with sundry noises, the typing of my significant other's keyboard, the rush of the wind outside my window, the steady, measuring inhale and exhalations of my breath. I visualized easily the colors of my chakras, starting with a shocking red for my 1st chakra (the Root). Moving up all the way to a deep indigo for my Third Eye chakra. It was wonderful to experience my whole world stop for moment and my mind empty of thoughts. I came to a place in my psyche that was almost like sleep, but somewhere in between, and then I would pull back and focus on the color of my chakra. I could feel the healing at a soul-deep level that is hard to put into words. I know that each session is different, but I can only try to duplicate or one-up the results of last nights meditation, if only to feel again that sense of inexplicable bliss.

Photo Credits: Markuso