I was thinking of George's father and his serenity now idea. It's something everyone searches for. There are eastern approaches, self help ideas, quick fix make overs, doctors on tv peddling the latest "health" pill, "reality" tv to take you out of your suffering for a time. That's what entertainment is. The opiate of the masses. It has struck me how skewed our priorities are. When entertainers make millions and those doing real work are barely getting by. Everyone is looking for a way out.
Suffering can be the result of many things. Expectation, perspective, disease, circumstances. Basically, life. The extent to which these things disrupt your tranquility is up to you. This is why I do yoga. Time and again it has proven itself invaluable as a means of keeping me happy and healthy. Which is not to say I'm never upset or never get a cold. Instead I am less frequently upset and can rebound from emotional turmoil much more quickly. Also, the list of things that get me riled up is shortening. I feel more and more grateful.
This week we will practice to open our hearts to what will truly nurture us while letting go of what doesn't. There are many layers to your thought process and what will be good and healthy for us doesn't always come to the forefront of our minds, particularly when we're upset. It's important to clear out residual upset before making decisions for yourself. We'll breathe, practice pranayama to restore balance and visualize getting what we need, releasing what we don't. All this in addition to asana to strengthen and increase flexibility to both our bodies and minds.
Trustful surrender. We will practice the art of surrender. Which may or may not have a good connotation for you. Surrender may mean defeat to you, but in this case it is trusting a more subtle, objective part of yourself. Whether it be the subconscious or the divine, quiet your conscious mind so you can listen.
