| We continue our exploration of the grounding | | | | most certainly of yoga. On the mat we get |
| principles of yoga known as the YAMAS. These five | | | | accustomed to being present with sensations in the |
| disciplines can provide a powerful grounding influence | | | | body and this training is directly related to practicing |
| in our daily lives. The second discipline that follows | | | | this presence with our emotional nature. We all carry |
| non-violence is truthfulness (satya). This word may | | | | conditioned reactions based on our past, family and |
| also be translated to be genuine, real or honest. Like | | | | society; to indulge in these conditioned reactions is to |
| all aspects of yoga the more we are able to cultivate | | | | avoid reality. We all have the opportunity to |
| these principles within the more effective we can be | | | | experience and express, more fully, the principle of |
| in expressing them in our relationships with others. | | | | truthfulness in our lives. Become familiar with the |
| Let's look to the paired opposite to deepen our | | | | triggers that "set you off" and start to infuse a little |
| exploration of truthfulness. In which ways are we not | | | | space between the trigger and the reaction. Be |
| honest with ourselves? One of the things that has | | | | courageous in your truth and be forgiving in your |
| been coming up for me is a tendency to look for a | | | | reactions. |
| distraction in a painful or uncomfortable moment. I | | | | Truthfulness is about Getting Real and when we take |
| can imagine these distractions taking many forms | | | | steps to be present with ourselves and with one |
| from as simple as changing the subject to reaching | | | | another there is a tremendous amount of energy |
| for a drink to an expression of rage. There are | | | | released into your life. What we do not see is that |
| infinite possibilities but as we become more aware | | | | holding onto these conditioned reactions consumes a |
| we can hesitate and hold that "uncomfortable space" | | | | tremendous amount of energy. The process of |
| and be honest with ourselves by allowing ourselves | | | | enlightenment is like small photons of light being |
| to feel what there is to be felt. Imagine the feeling is | | | | released in our being each time we choose to act |
| like a wave that you surrender to in the moment, | | | | with compassion and awareness. |
| feeling it in ever more subtle ways. Practice | | | | During your next yoga class develop the skills of |
| consciously relaxing your resistance in the form of | | | | truthfulness by learning to be more present with |
| contractions in the body and distractions in the mind. | | | | your body, mind and breath. I wish you all great |
| Make room for the feeling to express itself fully in | | | | courage in practicing truthfulness on the mat and in |
| your being. | | | | your life this day in every way. |
| This is a practice of compassion, of honesty and | | | | |