Planting Seeds Along the Yoga Path

January 2nd, 2013

Yesterday I became aware of a gift from my Yoga practice. I love those moments when I recognize that the seeds that I have planted in my practice have matured, ripened into a full sense of existence within me. In this case it was seeing the maturation of clarity as an offshoot of my ability to be still, centered and observant.

As we were setting up for yoga class I realized that we did not have a receipt book. We use the receipt book to give receipts to students who want to come back to the park any time after class that day. My first impulse was to jump on my bike, ride home and get one. There was an impulse to go into action. As I took my next breath I felt this sense of calm come over me and I thought, “why not wait?” I realized that maybe no one would need a receipt, and if they did I could go get them during the class (I was not teaching this day) and be back before class ended.

I enjoyed checking people in, meeting new students, discovering where they came from and helping them set up for class. Then I had another moment of clarity. I realized that I could simply bike down to the entrance to Fort Zach and pay for the entrance fees directly, getting a receipt for anyone who wanted one.

So rather than ride another 3 miles round trip, to get the receipt book, bring it back to the park and then back home, I simply got receipts from the park. It was simple, easy and felt like it came from some place calm, centered and deep within.

Some of you know I love to garden, hence the analogy to planting. Sometimes I plant seeds and nothing happens, while other times a bounty of plants sprout, and then there are times that something grows when I never planted any seedlings. That has been my experience along the yoga path as well.

While I don’t remember consciously calling out for patience to materialize within me, as I explored a heart based practice I discovered a sense of patience was so very available to me. It was a gift born from my practice very much like airborne seeds planted in my yard. Other times I have set myself down on my yoga path with clear intentions to lay down a seed, and then used my practice, intention and awareness to mature the seedling.

Whether it is a seed of the physical body, emotional body or mental body, know that they are related and will be affected by each other. The physical body in growing flexibility, well being or strength, will touch the emotional body with inner peace, emotional agility or compassion, stimulating growth in the mental body like clarity, calmness, or mental elasticity. And with all this the spirit grows.

Here is to your practice. And to growing with intention while seeing the fruits blossom so that you may share them with others.

Namaste!