By Jennifer Miller
My yoga practice continues to teach me about my inner self. Working through advanced postures, I am conscious of how my mind makes “excuses” during periods where I struggle: too many babies, weak bandhas, arms and legs that are too long (very creative). But through discipline and focusing my mind, I am able to block out these thoughts and “distractions”.
This past Thursday at the Ashtanga Yoga Center in Encinitas, CA, I finally nailed the difficult Urdhva Kukkutasana B pose (a lifting lotus) in the advanced series. But this short-term success highlighted a major theme in my overall practice: that difficult transitions in my life had reduced the desire to “push forward”.
As mothers, we must be able to “detach” from the emotions and negative energy that arise as we watch our children grow older and naturally struggle with life’s journey. We need to remain objective with the strength to make the tough calls that do not enable a continuation of poor decisions and actions.
My yoga practice and personal life both thrive when I maintain a healthy mind-body connection. My teacher noticed from across the room when I succeeded with the difficult pose. I quickly do the pose again to confirm it in my muscle memory. My mind has thoughts of “I CAN” running through it and the body responds.
I remember with a smile back to a day when I worked with girls at the Recovery Home and demonstrated this same pose. The purpose was to show them that a yoga practice mirrors our daily lives. We can feel stifled and stuck in life, but we need to have the strength to push through the barriers holding us back.
One of the girls had said “…you’re so strong you could probably take us all out”. We all laughed. They had reacted to the positive energy I demonstrated when facing a seemingly impossible situation.
We must maintain the ability to focus our minds on the positive things we can accomplish each day in order to push through even the most difficult of times in our lives.
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Asanas, Attachment, Detachment, Freedom, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mind, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Ashtanga, Attachment, Detachment, Jennifer Miller, Life, Yoga, Yoga Practice
The practice of non-attachment has provided me with tools to navigate through life. Life will always present obstacles that we have no control over. So it is important to always be aware that I am able to choose how to react. By choosing to let go of a negative thought, emotion or event, I trust in the process and am quickly filled with inner peace.
Yoga Goddess 