Yoga Talk
Let There Be Light
~ December 2009 ~
Winter solstice is around the corner, the shortest and darkest day of the year…..and yet we are heading back to the light. So I am always more excited about winter solstice than summer solstice.
This is a time I often turn on all the lights in my house and light candles everywhere…especially on those dreary days when you see nothing but dark clouds and rain. I find that when I have more light in my life, I have more energy, and my moods are better.
“Yoga is a light which, once lit, will never dim.
The better you practice, the brighter the flame.”
~BKS Iyengar
One of the reason I love hatha yoga is because it is a vehicle for bringing forth your inner light. It helps you to take off the layers that have become habit, and to let them go when they no longer serve you. Because the essence of yoga is being present, you are encouraged to be totally self absorbed and watch yourself and notice what you see and feel from your own direct experiences. The postures are just forms you use to help you find the light that can get buried in our everyday lives if we are not careful.
“A lamp was not made to be hidden under a bowl.”
~Unknown
What is your inner light? I always think of it as my soul. It is who we are when we change our learned behavior and the outer world’s idea of what it takes to be a success in life. Often this light gets covered over and we can even forget who we are…
“Don’t be tempted by the shiny apple,
Don’t eat of the bitter fruit,
Hunger only for a world of justice,
Hunger only for a world of truth,
Because all that you have is your soul.”
~Tracy Chapman
