In Yoga practice, you are taught to listen and observe. Within a Yoga class, self-observation is addressed frequently. Pranayama and meditation require that you first, listen to the world from within - then you can better understand the world outside your body. To observe the world, you must listen carefully. When meeting others, one key to remember is that people love to talk about themselves. If you want to diffuse a situation, ask a person to explain his or her viewpoint, and just listen.
Brahmacharya: The fourth Yama brings to mind words like chastity, celibacy, or abstinence. Consider this Yama to refer to restraining sensual or sexual pleasure; but also consider moderation as a key element. Moderation is a key to quality life. To deprive the senses, tends to create frustrated people. How many of us have seen someone enter into a diet, and make everyone else miserable? The person who lives on a “lettuce diet,” out of necessity, has a right to be frustrated. However, if it is a diet of choice, then this person could apply a little spice, other vegetables, whole grains, herbs, legumes, and any anything else it takes to live a quality life.
Meditation can be integrated with “brain storming,” as a problem-solving method. In the workplace, a co-worker who is not emotionally involved in the problem, will come up with a solution right away. This is because the co-worker took a “fresh look” at the problem. The same can happen to you. If you take a break from any problem, and come back to it later, you may also see the solution right away. At night, it is best to write a problem down and leave it on the kitchen table, where you usually sit.
Could Yoga have all the answers to anxiety? Why is it that anxiety, stress, and unhappiness take over so many people’s lives? If you listen to a “doubting Thomas,” nothing works, but if you read below, you will see some solutions. In fact, all forms of Yoga are good for our mental health. This does not mean that anxiety will disappear, but Yoga gives us the tools to put anxiety in the “back seat,” while we determine a positive direction in life. The struggle for direction is within our minds. We must be aware of the struggle from within. |