This is a practice that I have had trouble with my whole life. Even before I was introduced to the concept of tapas I was resistant to any kind of self discipline. I don't think that I am unique in having the attitude of being able to do what I want and resisting any restraint. Fortunately for me it never went much farther then an excess of sugar. I have been able, with dedication to my practice, to reduce the number of self imposed negative influences on my behavior. But many of the circumstances in my life conspired to reduce the opportunity for indulging in these detrimental behaviors. Tapas is self imposed discipline. It is an internal character building exercise.
My current tapas practice is to stick to 2 cups of coffee (1/2 decaf) a day and to never buy Malano cookies again. (Seriously. Ever.) The degree of success that I'll have with this practice depends entirely on my willpower. The question becomes: is my intention stronger than my habit?
My teacher's teacher (Rod Styker) calls this a departure point in his Four Desires program. It is one small, maybe seemingly insignificant, change in your behavior that has the potential to lead to much bigger and better changes in your life.
While this process is undoubtedly one of internal fortitude we will practice asana this week with the intention of building heat to create resistance and work through that difficultly because you cannot do to your body without it affecting your mind.
It is a matter of the right ingredients. What can you do to become bigger than your habits? Yoga has a plethora of options but it is not the only thing you can do. There are many self help books, talk shows and videos. Find what works for you and stick with it.
For every difficulty I encounter and overcome, my gratitude for the practice of yoga in my life grows.
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