Wall+sky by Danilo Rizzuti

If you have the habit of letting your thoughts run away with you… the practice of yoga is specifically geared towards helping you to let that go.

Yoga Sutra I: 13 states:

” …effort toward steadiness of mind is practice (ibid. I:13)).”

Now, try not to think of a purple elephant with red polkadots.  - You did, didn’t you?

We can see that there is not really a way to steady the mind by suggesting it directly. Direct effort, forcing, pushing, prodding will naturally build up resistance. As my husband has said,  it has never ever helped someone to tell them to calm down. We must tempt, and appease the mind. Provide it with a few means to help it self soothe, like we would a child who wants a drink of water when they are supposed to be in bed. We can teach the mind to relax. We teach the mind gently, with compassion, and clear, consistent effort. 

Effort toward steadiness of mind may or may not be doing yoga asana, but it does mean:

1. Showing up regularly (on the mat, or for meditation, or for drawing, sculpting or whatever you do) each day, even if the mind tries to resist (“aw… I don’t feel like it today”). Imagine how you would work with a resistant child. Then apply this to your own process.

2. Provide ourselves with reassurance and intention. Know that what you are doing is good for you, and a way of caring for yourself and others. Set a clear intention each morning, and stick to it.

3. Don’t take small set backs as failure, but learning. If you mess up, it was just a mess up. It doesn’t mean we have stopped practicing. Keep going.

“And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” – Alfred Pennyworth from Batman

Pose of the Day: Simple Seated position or half lotus if it is comfortable. Sit for 10 minutes or more.

Yogic Concept of the Day: Effort toward steadiness of mind is gentle and consistent.