down, doggie

Camel.  Rabbit.  Locust.  Cobra.  Dolphin.  Ostrich.  What do these have in common with a Dancer?  Or a Sugarcane?  Or a Tree?

I'll give you a hint.  They aren't living things.  Well, they are, but that isn't the answer I was going for.

They are all yoga poses, or postures.  And while in reality they have fancy names like Garudasana (Eagle Pose), Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana (Standing Splits), and my personal favorite, Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II); they're all meant to accomplish a goal: whether that be improving overall health, mental clarity, enlightenment, or achieving moksha (liberation from worldy suffering).  There is no wrong answer in yoga practice.  Some people begin a yoga practice to relieve minor aches and pains, other people begin their practice to become more in tune with themselves.

I began practicing yoga in February of 2012, and I have come to the realization that it isn't simply a form of exercise.  It isn't simply a method of stretching.  It is becoming a lifestyle.

It's weird to think how "exercising" changed my point of view, but there is a certain peace and serenity that falls upon me while in the yoga studio that I am able to carry with me throughout the day.  Each day I choose a reason, or mantra, that I attempt to hold within myself until the next time I attend a yoga class.  For example, the day I held a garage sale...

"For today's class, I will achieve a sense of compassion and patience that I can hold to and be able to deal with people favorably."

It might sound cheesy, but it works.  I don't know why, but I compare it to the Good Angel that sits on my right shoulder opposite the Evil Devil on the left.  When a negative thought comes into mind, I almost think, "Calm down, andreweee, there's a more rational way to think about this."

Now, I'm not preaching at you to go try yoga or "do unto others" or anything like that, I just thought I'd share my love for yoga.