How Can We Learn From Yoga In This Time? – Aparigraha

Aparigraha – Freedom from Greed & Desire in Sanskrit. My favourite Yama because you can use it to replace the lyrics in GALA’s hit ‘Free From Desire’…

Okay, lets be a little more serious now. A quote popped up today on my news feed which I believe sums up this particular topic rather well:

‘If you practice gratitude every day, it won’t take long before gratitude is your natural state of being, and when that happens you will have unlocked one of the greatest secrets of life’.

We are conditioned now days to always want more. Whether through advertisement or social media, we are always being shown a better car, a better holiday, even a better relationship. Before we have even received the first thing we are on to the next. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting or appreciating nice things (appreciating being the optimum word). However in yoga we are taught that longing for something in a way that creates discomfort and not appreciating what is already in front of you causes great pain. And I have to agree with this. Take a moment to think about all of the times that you have caused yourself hurt by focusing on what you don’t have instead of what is already there. I know I have fallen victim to this many times. And it forces you out of the enjoyment of any particular moment, the enjoyment of just living. Why do we do that to ourselves?!

Take lock down for example. Everyone has had a different situation, and I am very aware that I have been incredibly fortunate with mine. But longing for things to be different, especially in the kind of situation we have been in where we don’t know how long this lock down situation could go on for only causes more pain. It takes effort to change your thought pattern to one of gratitude when it is not your natural state, but that is the inner work that we call yoga.

Allowing yourself to be present and experience gratitude whenever you can in whatever way is available to you not only creates better feelings within the body, but aligns your energetic vibration with your higher self, opening you up to receiving and acknowledging any good things coming your way.

Make it your aim to be happy and grateful just because. You don’t need to wait for more to arrive to feel good right now.

With Love, Light & Best Wishes,

Ciara X