HOLIDAZE: COMMITTING TO RADICAL SELF-LOVE
NOVEMBER 21, 2008: Yoga is learning how to love yourself first. Then you're much more able to love others. WOW! That’s what I said when I first read, learned this concept. IT WAS RADICAL! It was different than what I’d known as a way of life which was take care of everyone else, be concerned with what everyone else thinks of me then if time remains look after me. This was especially true during the HoliDAZE (from now until end of the year) where my dedication to myself would suffer the most and I'd arrive to the finish line of December 31st exhausted and a little cranky. That all changed as a result of practicing yoga.
It was through Yoga practice that I learned to really understand how and why loving myself first was important. Essentially, yoga is learning how to be present to yourself, to ask the right questions, to listen to the answers, i.e., What do I want? What do I feel? What do I need? How can I give myself what I need right now? We talk about this as muscular energy or drawing in before we expand out with organic extension. It’s true. The more that is asked of us in life the more we have to practice radical self-love, radical self-care. As a result we'll have more energy to give to others. Because to give love we must first know it for ourselves from ourselves as the lover and the beloved. So today come to the mat and practice radical self-love as Muktananda says, "Meditate on yourself. Honor yourself. Respect yourself. Love yourself." Peace be with each of you, Silvia