WHAT IS YOUR MOST COMMON KNEE JERK REACTION
October 3, 2010:
What is your most common knee-jerk reaction? Is it impatience, anger, gossip, worry, self-cricism? Well through the mindfulness practice of yoga I want to help you replace all that by choosing happiness as your automatic reaction, response to all things, situations and people. How do we do this? The Yoga Sutras tell us. They actually give us the keys to happiness. The Yogic model proposes that the four keys to an open happy heart are to nurture these attitudes:
- Kindness and friendliness to those who are happy
- Compassion for those that are suffering or less fortunate
- Respect and honor for those that who embody noble qualities
- Equanimity for those whose actions oppose our values
At first these four keys to help enable us to retain our inner peace in all circumstances seem easy. But applying these in day to day life is more challenging than we think. We often fool ourselves into believing we are kinder than we really are and can use this practice to really see where our actions are not aligned with what we believe ourselves to be. Most of all this teaches us that we are responsible for co-creating our life. We have the four keys to our happiness. Love in all ways, Silvia
So first step is to create some space. Here at the start of a new month let's just empty and let go of all the grievances, grudges we kept up with throughout September. As the bible says Love keeps no records of wrongs.
You have a choice. You can say to yourself "I intend to allow more joy into my life" or "I choose to be happy." Just five words if you want to keep it really simple! And notice the power of intention is not placing prerequisites or conditions but just doing it right now. I know these four keys to happiness seem easy, but applying them to day to day life is pretty challenging because of that knee-jerk reaction, the old way of thinking and doing things. But you have a choice and can change. You are happiest when you think yourself happy. And ultimately you are responsible for co-creating your life. You have just this one lifetime and there are no do overs. So why not choose happiness starting right now? I know you can do it! Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia
PS - We practice Mandala Namaskar 1 (Salutation) to help us see the power of our own choices!
Mandala Namaskar I
INHALE -- Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana (1 Leg Downward Dog)
EXHALE – Anjaneyasana (Lunge)
INHALE – Parsva Anjaneyasana (Side Lunge)
EXHALE – Skandasana (Transverse Lunge)
INHALE – Ardha Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge)
EXHALE – hands down
INHALE – Ardha Plank (1 legged Plank)
EXHALE -- Chaturanga Dandasana
INHALE -- Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
EXHALE -- Chaturanga Dandasana
INHALE -- Plank
EXHALE -- Adho Mukha Svanasana
(To create circular pattern, Mandala, go through series right foot, right foot, left, left)