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As much as it shocks me to say this, the holiday season is practically upon us (I'm actually working on the 2010 Holiday Gift Guide this week). While I enjoy the holidays, I dread the busyness that comes along with them. It seems a bit overkill to me and each year I try to eliminate unnecessary tasks associated with the holidays. I'd rather spend time enjoying than run around like a crazy person trying to "get everything just right."
Does Your Yoga Practice Fall Away When Time Gets Short?
Regardless of my attempts at simplicity, this time of year still gets a bit busy. The same goes for the majority of my clients. Not only are they busy from a time perspective but for some, this time of year brings up a lot of emotional upheaval. But these two things together and one's yoga practice tends to fall by the wayside. Of course it's a catch 22 -- the busier you are, the more likely your yoga practice will falter and the more likely you are to drop your yoga practice, the more likely you are to suffer.
So, what's a busy -- or emotionally distraught -- yogi to do? I used to wonder the same thing. I always wondered why something that can be so beneficial (in my case a regular meditation practice) brings up so much resistance. I was practicing yoga regularly, so why not meditation? That's when I realized that it came down to my mindset. I was a firm believer in discipline -- pushing through, force vs. power, will power, buckling down and gutting through. I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to me. And since human beings tend to shy away from pain, it's not a good strategy for developing a regular practice of anything, be it yoga, meditation, knitting, etc.
A New Way to Look at Discipline
Even though I had discipline when it came to my yoga practice, I hated to use "the D word." In fact, I cringed every time I thought of the word discipline. Until I listened to a discussion about a Dalai Lama interview with Larry King. At one point, Larry King asked the Dalai Lama about fidelity (he actually brought up Tiger Woods -- how crazy is that? You have an hour with the Dalai Lama and you waste his time asking about Tiger Woods' sexual activity?!?!?! I suppose this is why I never watch Larry King.), citing that the Dalai Lama had once said that fidelity was a discipline (you can listen to this portion of the interview here -- it's a little over 2 minutes into the segment). It was the answer that changed how I look at "the D word" -- he said that discipline is "protection of your own interests."
As the discussion about this interview progressed, the idea of discipline being an act of protecting what's important to you came up. Rather than being something rigid or something that you should yourself over, how does it feel to think of discipline as protecting what you love, honoring what's important to you, making your values a priority? That change of perspective did it for me. After all, it's what I had already done with my yoga practice. I wasn't practicing because I had -- I practiced (and still do practice) because I enjoyed it and because my yoga practice made me feel good.
What Comes First -- Practice or Discipline?
There is discussion about practice and discipline in The Yoga Sutras. Like the question, which came first, the chicken or the egg, a similar question is asked about practice and discipline. Which comes first? One would be tempted to say discipline. As above, most folks think that you have to have willpower to have a regular practice. Yet it is the other way around -- you have a practice and as you start to enjoy your practice (and de-link from bad habits and link to more positive ones), discipline develops.
Now isn't that a relief? You don't have to force yourself to practice yoga (or meditate) or diligently put it on your to do list and check it off each day. Instead, see it as something positive in your life. A regular practice supports you. So even when things get busy, don't you prioritize something that you value?
Just another way of looking at things...
Namaste!
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I’ve been doing yoga for almost three years now and I agree with you that it requires a lot of discipline. What I love about your post is that you encourage people to continue the practice of doing yoga. Continue inspiring people!
Posted by:Sand Sock Girl |November 21, 2010 at 01:00 AM
Thank you SO much for this. I am right in the midst of both a long distance relationship and deepening my yoga practice, so I have been thinking a lot about discipline (of the protecting your passion variety). Keep up the great work-- you always inspire me!
Posted by:Maggie |November 18, 2010 at 03:57 PM
I LOVE this description of discipline! So motivating!
Posted by:Lauren |November 18, 2010 at 11:56 AM
What a great post! Shifting the perspective on discipline to protecting what's valuable and important, like our sadhana is perfect.
The reminder you've offered here feels like an early x-mas present - Thank you!
Practice and Discipline go hand in hand. Gotta do both! Great post...
Posted by:Emily O.S. |November 17, 2010 at 02:11 PM
Protecting my own interests, what I love, what's important to me, my values...what a great way to think of a regular yoga practice. Thank you for great food for thought!
Posted by:Kristina |November 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM
i heard a quote about discipline recently which i found helpful:
"Discipline is remembering what you want."
Thanks for the wonderful post!
Posted by:Jill D. |November 17, 2010 at 08:39 AMI do have a question concerning flexibility. I deal with customers every day who have this problem too. Sometimes we feel yoga is 'not for us' and feel dorky next to the uber flexible. I for one have hips that are out of alignment and its hard to even touch my toes...I love yoga though and would love it if you would check out my websites anyone out there reading this :) BTW Tara Stiles' yoga book is excellent as well.
http://www.p90xmc2power90insanityturbofirejam10minutetrainerslimin6.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Your-Living-Room-Is-a-Gym/161583252988
oh good, so right now i am just practicing waiting for the discipline, that means it will get easier right?
http://p90xdayone.blogspot.com/
Posted by:alilac |November 16, 2010 at 10:07 PM Verify your Comment Previewing your CommentPosted by: |This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
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