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Revisit your mindfulness practice before…

So many of us are brought to mind-body and/or spiritual practices by a “problem,” and it is often the case that once the problem fades with the positivity of the practice, the practice also fades. Then the original issue or another problem comes roaring back in (such is life) and we are left wondering “Why did I stop doing yoga/meditation/prayer/[insert your mindfulness practice here]?”

I like to try to remember that there is a reason that these mind-body tools are associated with words such as practice and discipline. Not in a rigid or severe sense, but rather a mindful meticulousness that will translate into a positive thoughtfulness in other areas of life, such as dealing with emotional stress or physical difficulties or general life flare-ups. The big wheel is going to keep on turnin’, and I believe our ability to deal with the cycles of life is affected positively by these disciplines. And if life keeps coming…shouldn’t the practices continue, through the downs AND the ups?

For 99.9999% of us, Yoga-asana isn’t something to “do until you get this good” and then its over. Meditation sessions won’t equate to fixing certain life tribulations at the meeting of meditation time intervals. There isn’t a math formula for prayer, and none of these “doings” are fixes or pills or cures for life’s trials. But I believe these doings, done consistently, can develop and sharpen our life navigation skills by building stores of positive resource during periods of calm, and maybe aiding us in rolling through rough patches.

The beauty, and often the lesson of the process is that we often don’t even realize we “benefit” from our practices off the mat/cushion…until we stagnate, that is.

Don’t wait for your body to harden and deteriorate before approaching a physical yoga practice. Don’t wait for unconscious anxiety to manifest into destruction before considering stress-reducing meditation practices. Don’t wait for the next natural disaster or personal misfortune to call on God. 

Why do I care? I don’t have an “agenda” other than wanting to further this force that I feel is positive in the world. This free and available source of healing, hope, and help on countless levels. To each their own way…this is a way that I’ve found and I just want to keep sharing it. Maybe you found it once, but it faded for whatever reason…with compassion, consider giving it another go.

Keep it flowing, through the rough rapids AND the lazy river.  (Totally love the lazy river, right?!)