Embracing Change Through Stillness

Welcome to this week’s offering. I hope the week of the full moon flowed by with grace.

As mentioned last week, we are currently in a time of great transitioning for many, including myself. When we are prepared to embrace change, we open ourselves up to some extraordinary energies. For myself as I lightly touched on last week, one of the things that has been a constant presence in my life since I was small was yoga. Although my formal training did not come until much later in life, Yoga’s presence let itself be a light feather touch of stability at major points in my life. Whether it was a breath, a book, or a philosophy it somehow used to find its way into my psyche when I needed it most, like a gift from the larger Universe when my mind had me only focusing on a small universe's existence.

Yoga and my practice/living of it is a great source of solace. Not just the asana (postures) but the entire philosophy and lifestyle. This is where I am my truest, organic Self, my clearest in life.

Over the coming months you may see within the work I share or within the topics of this newsletter a deeper delve into why it is such a gift to the way we live. One of the things I love sharing about Yoga is dismissing an often misunderstood aspect of it.

Practising Yoga doesn’t mean you have to be physically flexible, but it does mean becoming flexible about who you think you are.

Even over the last 18 months I personally have been asked to be flexible in my concepts of who and what I am. Which way I am prepared to bend in my life that feels open and free and which way feels restrictive and against my greater good.

It’s always my yoga that brings me to the center “home” that gives me clarity. So I thought sharing this with you as a newsletter may help some of our readers discover some hidden treasures within themselves.

How do we discover the hidden treasure of embracing change through stillness within?

Consistent, dedicated practice is important. It is one thing to want or crave stillness. It is another to place it in the importance of your daily routines. The vedas share with us constantly, how we begin our day is how we choose our day. I liken it to, how I begin my day is how I choose the colours I will “paint/create” my day with. How will I view the challenges as/or the gifts?

So in saying this if you are used to beginning your day with stillness I celebrate with you. If it is something you have wanted or wondered how to do, here are some easy but powerful tips to help….

Four easy steps to creating stillness/calm

* Choose the same time each day.
* Sit in the same place each day (doesn’t have to be crossed legged on the floor, just make sure you are comfortable and it is a dedicated space. Both the first two suggestions will help for your mind to begin to associate the time and space with rest/quiet.
* Create and have a relaxed feeling, do not place any pressure on yourself, there is no wrong or right, drop this concept as it will hold you captive in thought. The act of the practice itself, is all we are focusing on at first.

You don’t have to close your eyes, just breathe & notice you are doing it. Don’t approach the space, mat or chair with an expectation. It will make things harder for you. At first you may find you sit and 100’s of thoughts come to your mind, that is normal, it's ok You have stopped and so you will notice the flood of thoughts.

If you are new to “sitting with the stillness," have a journal with you, write down the thoughts, things to do, etc. Over the coming days this will begin to quieten as you know you will not forget to do anything you have written down.

“Consciously being conscious,” become aware of how the universe reflects itself uniquely as you.

What are the feelings, sensations, dialogue you are feeling and hearing?

* Finally, set an alarm if it helps you to not worry about time and being interrupted by the kids or running late for work. If it is 5 minutes, it will begin to make a difference.

At first sitting in stillness may seem uncomfortable, strange, even annoying, but I can assure you I have shared this strategy with more women, men and teenagers than I can remember and I can tell you, if you stay with it, it doesn’t take long until you feel the results for yourself.

That will become your greatest motivation. Feeling amazing, centered and with deep peace and the ability to take this into the actions of your day/life.

I hope sharing these small tips helps begin to break down any barriers you may have been holding with respect to Yoga or beginning a morning routine that encourages stability, centering and connection.

Remember the most important thing is to - Start.

I’d love to hear how your practice goes, how are the other positive things you have been implementing or if you need any extra tips, feel free to email me.

Take care
Alli

xxx