30 Days of Summer Yoga-Day 27

Learning how to sit quietly was the biggest challenge for me in my yoga practice. My mind didn't understand the concept.  At all.  My thoughts would race, my mind would wander.  I would bring it back into focus, only to have it race off somewhere again. And believe me, I still have my days.  Just because I'm a yoga teacher doesn't mean I'm immune to my own unique form of crazy :D

This is VERY common.  In a world where we are constantly stimulated, it can feel impossible to sit still and be quiet for even a moment.

However, you can train your brain to listen to you.  You can train your brain to gently quiet itself, and guide it back when it wanders off again.  It takes practice, sometimes for a lifetime.  Your brain WANTS to be quiet.  It has enough to do without all the chatter :) 

Here is an excerpt from a book that really helped me in the beginning, when I was learning how to sit quietly.

Excerpt from: Buddha In Blue Jeans, An Extremely Short Simple Zen Guide to Sitting Quietly and Being Buddha by Tai Sheridan, Ph.D**

Weather-60 & Drizzling (inside)
Students-11, 1 chair, 10 mat
Organizations-St. Johns Breakfast
Money Raised-$38

**Tai Sheridan is the author of several books that helped me on my path.  One of them I never even read.  The title alone helped bring my entire life into a new perspective.  It's called "Relax, You're Going To Die".  Somehow, those words helped me realize that this beautiful life is TEMPORARY.  We all have a limited time here. Please make the most of it by doing the things that make you happy.  Let go of your worry, anxiety and fear, one breath at a time.  

Sending LOVE to the Universe <3 <3 <3