Live what you want...

Hi,

Today I am dealing, a little, with my shoulder tension and I found an exercise to do. (I would like to post it so check back at a later date for posted video and pictures.)

I realized while doing the exercise how important it is to keep the shoulders relaxed and not to push... not to try to make a perfect shape based on a picture in my head of something outside myself that is what the posture or movement should look like... but to try to go no further than a place of discomfort-pain, tension, emotional resistance, resistance, excessive will power... and to try to accept the limit of today and be in this moment...for the purpose of allowing the energy to flow... before moving on...to extending to the boundary... maybe a slight bit beyond, as long as the energy is still flowing and there is not tension or other blocks beginning to form.

I feel in this way I can progress the fastest and furthest... though fastest and furthest is not the goal... the goal... is to be... in this moment and enjoy it.

Jai Bhagwan

Kim

Jai Bhagwan

"Jai" from what I understand means "I see" or "I honor" or "With respect I hale"

"Bhagwan" is "the light within you"

Jai Bhagwan from Hindi is similar to "Namaste" from sanskrit

"Namas" I bow

"te" to you

"Namaste" also translated as "I bow to the spirit within you" or even "the spirit(or light) in me bows to the spirit(light) in you."

Yamas and Niyamas talk...

I am emphasizing mindfulness and alignment. I talk about the niyama "santosha" finding well being in each moment-difficult or easy, and the yama "ahimsa" nonharming-practiced toward the self. Use the breath to move the body into postures gently and without pain or tension. This practice will build strength and flexibility through the concept of "less is more" rather than the use of force.

santosha sanskrit contentment, the greatest happiness, unfaltering joy

ahimsa sanskrit the avoidance of violence

yamas sanskrit restraints

niyamas sanskrit observances

Note: I make these terms look like I got them from the dictionary, but these are my translations gleaned from many different sources and my own experience. I do not have a translation of The Yoga Sutras. I learned about Patanjali's Yoga Sutra while studying hinduism for my teacher training certificate in the Sivananda style of yoga.