“Rest is not idleness & to lie sometimes on the grass, under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” So wrote John Lubbock.
What can we do to better allocate our precious energies? This quote reminds me of Brahmacharya, the Sanskrit word for Conservation of Energy. This is one of the Yamas, or avoidances, in the Yoga Sutras. These are the essential principles outlined as techniques and experiences along our journeys.
How lovely is it to grab a book and a big glass of your favorite beverage, sink into a cozy chair, and get lost in a book? If reading isn’t your thing, a meandering walk through the woods, or neighborhood, solo or with a friend. What do you do to veg?
Why on *earth* would anyone skip out on Savasana, or the final relaxation pose that happens in most Yoga classes? This is, by some estimations, THE most important Yoga asana, or pose, of them all. This is where your body, mind, and spirit rejuvenate, and you can integrate the benefits of your practice. Skipping is like having a nice dinner, and not having dessert. Or skipping sprinkles on a sundae.
While it’s understandable that so many of us are overbooked, overworked, and overwhelmed, this is a vital part of one’s practice. Why not reevaluate, and look at what you can forgo, to free up those precious few moments to literally DO NOTHING? Not to weasel out of requirements or be that friend/partner, but to refill your own cup, and be your best self. If your schedule is that tight, perhaps it’s time to revisit things.
Note: no judgement, but if you do have to leave, make sure you’re by the door, and you leave quickly and quietly, hopefully having advised the teacher first.
How do you spend your energy? Is it scrolling aimlessly through your various social media platforms? Is it on housework? Is it on self-improvement? Parenting? Adulting? Hitting the gym, hard? All of these have their place, but the axiom says everything in moderation. We’re hard-wired to be social beings, just figure out what works best for you.
Please feel free to comment below. Until our mats unfurl again, be well!
Yoga by Meredith 