Greetings again from Yelapa, Mexico.
This afternoon I had a massage. How wonderful. It felt good.
Sore spots are not sore any longer. I am relaxed. I feel energized and rejuvenated.
But what I am struck by the most is the absolute gentle kindness expressed to me in the touch of the therapist, Claudia.
More than anything else this is what caused the most dramatic shift in the way I feel and experience my whole life here today.
Yoga does so many things for us. It stretches the muscles. It tugs at the connective tissue. It stimulates the intenal organs. It wrings "tired," congested blood out of stiff stagnant places in the body, and welcomes in new healing circulation. It opens the body to new patterns of breath. It stimulates the nerves and refreshes the skin.
Yoga postures can also unblock stuck energy in the body.
But it's not the only thing that does this.
The experience of lovingkindness lifts the spirit and opens us up to the beauty of our lives.
Today before you start your yoga practice, take a moment to recall the memory of someone who selflessly gave to you a gift, a simple act of kindness, that you did nothing to deserve. Consider the beauty and generosity of this selfless act.
Then pay attention to the openings that happen in your body and your experience of the world around you, before you start your asana or pranayama.
This takes your practice beyond physical exercise...and physical benefits. And it can bring you back to the mat on days when you really don't feel like another downward facing dog pose.
Don't just read about it. Get up. Experience it. Experience yoga!
Kevin Perry
www.ExperienceYoga.org
p.s., The Sanskrit word of the day from my last Daily Yoga Tip was surya. Surya means sun, as in surya namaskar, sun salutation. There are many sun worshipers here. But few of them have joined us for our daily rounds of surya namaskar. I hope you'll plan now to join us next year for our adventure in Yelapa.
p.p.s., Today's Sanskrit word of the day is chandra. I'll tell you what it means next time.
p.p.p.s, When we get back to the U.S. we'll be flying off to Annapolis, Maryland for the Experience Sanskrit workshop at Golden Heart Yoga on Saturday March 4th. The bad news is...it's sold out. There aren't any more open slots. The good news is...we're staying an extra day to conduct a 2-hour asana workshop on Sunday. Join us. To participate, click over to ExperienceYoga.org and register today. (If you want to get on the wait list for a place in the Experience Sanskrit workshop, call Golden Heart Yoga. Lynn and Jenny will be glad to add you to the list, just in case someone can't make it at the last minute.)
Come be with us on April 8 in Downers Grove, IL. We'll be at Yoga Among Friends starting at 1 pm. Register at ExperienceYoga.org. See you there!
p.p.p.p.s., I want to say a special word of thanks today to Judith Roth, a fellow Anusara yogi here in Yelapa. (See http://www.palapainyelapa.com/pages/judith.html.) Talk about kindness! Judith invited our whole group to visit her yoga center last night as she taught a beautiful yoga class for the children of Yelapa. Then she hosted a lovely dinner of barbecued fish, prepared by her neighbors, her adopted family, using a secret family recipe. It was fantastic. I am moved once again by Judith's kindness and generosity to us.
Copyright 2006.
All rights reserved, Mo Yoga LLC.
Kevin Perry
Mo Yoga LLC
905 Eastland Plaza Suite B, #106
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 680-6737
