In this past week plus, my thoughts have been going to the subject of Energy. How is my energy today? How am I feeling in my practice? First of all, some might just think about the physical alone. Am I tired? Sluggish? Do I have a feeling of Non-Stop Energy? This energy I'm speaking of is more emotional or mental one. It's how we feel during our practice, day to day lives, and the energy we feel from others.  I had the benefit of speaking with one of my students and she explained her heartbreak about taking on others energy and holding onto it. When I thought about my past before I began the path of yoga, I felt the same way my student did. Taking on others energy, trying to take on the burden of their situation, without even trying was allot to bare. When someone does this, it can be overwhelming and unhealthy. It can make you sick or just make your mind race to the point of no return (or so we think).

My advise to my student, was try to become the witness to this. Try to not let it take over your life, especially if you have nothing to do with it. Try to acknowledge it, and let it go because in the long run, negitive energy is only hurting yourself, your practice, and your life. There has been times for most of us, that this has happened. It is difficult to let go of an image or situation, but we can't let this fester. We need to come to grips with it, acknowledge, and understand that letting go of this energy is the best.

So my thought for your week of practice, if you feel you are holding on to another's negative energy let it go. It might not be easy the first time or even the second or third, but the more you put this toward your practice the better off you will be.

Namaste

In my practice I notice that week to week it can change so fast. For myself, I know that not only my practice on the mat, but in my daily life it can sometimes be very challenging and with weeks like this one, it can be out right difficult. 

We are told, follow the path, follow in your own truth, live in it. I tried my hardest this week to not let outside influences get to me. To just be a witness, even though others are causing me harm, not to harm others in my thoughts and my words. To be very honest, I felt my failure. I held on to these words and I knew I shouldn't. I heard those words over and over again. I felt the anger rushing to the surface. As my teacher has told me, as my fellow yogis have told me, sometimes we might stray from the path for a brief moment because in this day and age to follow the path  (specially the Yamas & Niyamas) is hard. It's a challenge every day, but as I look at it right now, at this very moment, I'm letting it go. I've let it go. Before I began following this path, my thoughts, words, and actions would have taken over, taking control, harboring themselves and popping up over and over again. I know now, my small slip up, my small step down, was not one at all. I'm climbing back up that mountain, knowing that sometimes what we view as a failure really isn't one at all....It's a lesson being learned, it's a step we are taking to make the path clearer and better for ourselves in the long run.

So, my thought for everyone this week is to work on what we see as a negative. In our meditation, our personal practice, or whatever gives you peace, take a brief moment and find a positive clarity to your negative and move forward, move up and move on.

Om Shanit, Shanti, Shanti

Namaste 

With everything going on I decided to pick up an old book of mine. Let's say it's an old favorite. This book is "Stages of Meditation" By The Dalai Lama. It's a moving beautiful book for me. By chance while I sit, I opened to page 67. The Dalai Lama speaks of Meditation and loving-kindness. "Meditation on loving-kindness beings with friends and people you are fond of. It has the nature of wishing that they meet with happiness...." 

How beautiful and simple a thought. Have you even taken a moment to think about someone else today, in a brighter or nicer way? Here is the thought I am asking for your week of meditation, moment of silent, or second of peace. Think of another....may that be a friend, family member, or any person you think of in the best regard. Think of that person, as the Dalai Lama mentions and wish them a meeting with happiness. Do that and see what that does not only for them, but for you as well.

Om Shanti....