Today I attended my first Friday morning yoga class with a teacher that I truly adore. I was so happy when I showed up and saw her setting up outside since the weather was so incredibly beautiful. We were in a local park, surrounded by trees and a small fountain. Perfect yoga setting.
As we go through our poses, she continuously reminds us to stay in the present and to really focus on an intention during our practice. I really like these reminders, because lately I feel like I'm all over the place...running in sixty directions and I need the calmness that comes with this focus.
As we stood in mountain pose (basically just standing up straight), she asked us to put our hands on our hearts and feel the heartbeats. And that's when I had a pretty nice conversation with my heart.
My heart said,
"As you stand here, I keep on beating. When you were tired and wanted to give up, I kept on beating. When you were lost, I kept on beating. When we had sadness, heartbreak, stress, I still kept on beating.
During your runs, and workouts, and whatever training you keep throwing at me, I keep on beating. Even when I feel pushed beyond my limits, I KEEP ON BEATING. No matter what you went through or are going through, I keep on beating."
My heart continued,
"Now, it's my turn to ask you for help. You are surrounded by love, positivity, caring, and sunshine, but you don't allow me to feel it. You try to quantify it. You let the brain run the show. You work hard to try to fit it in to your expectations, instead of just letting it in and rejoicing in it and let your heart feel it. I need you to know, I will always keep beating - no matter what - but please, accept the love that you are given and feel it. Accept the joy you have been given in your life and let me swim in it. The hard moments or hard days to not distract from the importance of this love and joy. So please, it's time to turn your brain off, to try to minimize all of the analysis, and just allow me this pleasure to experience these wonderful feelings that come with all of the good in your life."
