Focus on your journey

  When an idea, a desire or goal is created into the mind is like planting a seed into the ground. Imagine your favorite flower or tree to plant. We already feel excited to see this planting growing and having shapes and also hopefully giving fruits. We care, give proper conditions of soil, water and sunlight as need it. We wait the seed to sprout and the flower to blossom. The flower blooms its own time. I remember when I was a kid I tried forcing to open a flower to blossom before time and the flower end up being destroyed, then the I realized that even trying to "help" them to bloom I ended up destroying the flower and it was weak and not as beautiful like the others. I like to use sometimes lessons from nature itself to help myself and others to understand our own nature.
  Just like in Yoga practice, we can not force it to happen. It will happen through you and it's own time the changes in the physical, psychological and spiritual body. Sometimes yoga practitioners ask each other: How long have you been practicing yoga? How long it took you to do this deep fold? How long it will take me to do a handstand? People are inclined to compare their journey with others people's journey. If you focus in other practitioner or teacher practice you will never be fully with yourself. You will miss little moments of growth. The practice of yoga teach us to be with ourselves and embrace our bad and our good. Don't miss this opportunity. Be inspired but don't worry. Focus on your journey. Some people also think and ask when they will be able to cure their injuries and pains or how much long they need to practice to attain peace and happiness. There is no straight answer for that. Physical injuries and pain need to be treated with love and patience as the same when the heart is broken and the mind is confused. The practice of Yoga will not cure yourself but it will be like a mirror that will reveal your true self and give you answers and options for self healing. That's why we can't compare our journey to others because what may work for me maybe it will not work for you and vice-versa.
  Surrender is all what I can think about it. Direct your mind, thoughts, insecurities and questions to God or a Supreme power you believe that's is stronger than anything you know. Give time to yourself to bloom, to open and to receive grace. The doors of healing are open but are you able to walk the long path?
May you find peace.
Namaste

The Process VS The Results

  Everyone wants results right? In our jobs, our bosses want to see results. As citizens we want to see and have results. Society want results. We expect results in our relationships. We want the things done in our time. Our mind is trained by generations to think and act like that. We are attached to results and we totally rush in the process.
  As yoga is my primary teacher I learned that the process is the most important phase to be lived. The results is just the consequence that we have to face without expectation. In the process we learn, we fail, our ego is little by little destroyed, because the process is a slow transformation that must be accept with patience and love.Our mind is direct to accomplish the results but not in the process. When we start to train our mind to live the present and in the process, we are living fully.
  In Ashtanga Yoga method is a very slow process of learning. There are different series of poses to learn in a formal sequence. We can not skip one to practice the other( even if we know the other ) because this method train the mind to accept the challenge of the process.  I have notice in myself and lots of students the necessity of perfecting an asana. Asana is just a vehicle to experience the inner self. While performing the asana the focus should be in the breath, gaze and Divine. Letting the ego go with the expectations for results. Experience the present moment even if brings pain, insecurity or fear. Being out of our comfort zone we start to see and feels things with equanimity. We start to train our mind to be in balance in the mat when we are felling good or not. Taking the lesson out of our mat into our everyday lives.
  One of the beauty of Ashtanga yoga methods is that you have no choice...It is what it is.... I can not choose what I like and practice. Every asana was knowledgeably put in a sequence by Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois.
  You go to a yoga studio and the boom of the class is the crow pose, headstands and handstands :)" Yes I feel in power"....and when you can not do it you feeI bad...and sad, because you see everyone doing, you see that awesome handstand picture on instagram. The asana don't make you became a big yogi or yogini...The process of learning and accepting where you are is the yoga in a pure essence.
  In the physical aspects when you focus in the process you build more awareness and strength. You are preparing you body and mind in a slow process for the result that may or may not happen...But who cares? Live the experience of the present moment.
 This lessons I take out of the mat to my personal life slowly also. We all have dreams,goals and plans to accomplish. Nothing happen in the time we want. We do our part, living fully with love, respect and devotion and God take care of the rest. Giving the fruits of our actions to God, detaching of the results is live in yoga.