A daily Yoga practice

Having a daily Yoga practice is to commit to the goal of Yoga.

The goal of Yoga being, ‘to still the fluctuations of the mind’.

What would a still mind be like?

It wouldn’t be an overthinking mind, as that’s the opposite of stillness.

It wouldn’t be stressed, anxious or scared as those are the qualities of thinking.

It wouldn’t be overwhelmed because it wouldn’t be moving.

It wouldn’t be overstimulated because it wouldn’t be taking anything in.

I picture a clear lake coming into complete stillness.

So still that you can see through to the bottom of the lake.

It’s so at ease that it seems to be a mirror for the surrounding trees and sky.

It is clear.

It is all seeing.

It is peace.

It is contentment.

It is presence.

It is a place where joy is born.

Obviously, the goal of Yoga is not an easy goal to obtain.

And it isn’t like one of those simple goals where you have either achieved the goal or you haven’t.

It isn’t like that.

It is more like a journey towards a destination.

You are where you are right now.

A still mind might be close to your current state of being.

Or it might be quite far away.

Either way, there’s only one way to get there.

You enter the destination into the maps app on your phone.

It offers you different routes, twists or turns you could take in order to arrive there.

If you drive consistently, it will take less time.

If you pause for breaks regularly or even stop somewhere along the way for a time, it will take even longer to arrive.

Either way, the closer you get, the more the destination comes into view.

The less overwhelming it is to try and get there.

The more benefit you receive just by stepping closer to that goal.

The journey towards the goal of Yoga is similar.

There are different paths or routes you could take in order to get there.

You can learn about those paths.

Read.

Study.

Attend one Yoga class a month.

You can do those things.

But it doesn’t take you closer to the goal.

You get closer to the goal by taking actual steps.

You practice Yoga.

You bring the philosophy and the lifestyle of Yoga into your daily life.

You show up.

Even if you show up every single day for the rest of your life,

you still may not quite arrive at the ultimate destination.

But it doesn’t matter.

Because every step you take kisses the souls of your feet.

Every breath of awareness softens your heart.

Every time you choose peace over stress you train your mind to react in peace.

You receive the benefit every time you show up.

It’s not about the one Yoga class you do every now and then.

It’s about all those times you allowed yourself to practice Yoga through your own will, strength and discipline.

Remember your practice,

Let’s all remember our peace practice

Madison Mindset x