How Do I Stay Inspired???

Mona and I are moving into week #9 of the Yamas and Niyamas Class.  The precept that we are studying this week is called “Svadhyaya”.

Svadhyaya simply put means “Self Study”.

If we want to be adept at any area in our life we must continue to study the research, read the literature, and model those who have gone before us.  There is really no “arriving”.  There is always the journey.

Yoga is no different.

Many of us begin  the practice of yoga through the body.  We think of it as a just another way to get fit, flexible or strong.   And if you are consistent, if you have the discipline, (the “tapas”) to continue with your yoga, you will get fit, flexible and strong.  That is the good news.

The other good news is that yoga offers us many other “side benefits” that are the REAL gold.  Not to say that being fit, flexible and strong  are not important in our physical bodies.  But the side benefits continue even if we are injured or aging and cannot do all we have done physically in the past.

So we find something that feels good and know it has great value to us.  I will use yoga as our example.   We start out strong but then notice over a period of time that our interest is waning.  We aren’t going to as many yoga classes.  We have not done our meditation or breathing practice for weeks.  We have lost our spark, our inspiration.  We just can’t find our mojo.

How do we find the inspiration, the spark again?

Keeping the sparks alive!

Svadhyaya………..self study.

We need fuel to stay engaged.  What is your fuel?  Where do you find it?  Perhaps reading some articles about yoga online to understand more about the benefits.  Perhaps buying a book and starting a home practice.  Perhaps taking a class on the “Yamas and Niyamas”.

We need to know what fuels us and then we need to do those things frequently to stay fueled which will keep us inspired.

I found out a very long time ago that reading “self help” books, inspired me tremendously.  While I was reading the book, I would feel motivated, happy, and engaged with new thinking processes etc.  After I finished the book, my motivation would last for a few days but by the end of week one,  two or three I would find that I had slipped backwards again.

I would find another book, get excited, motivated and it would carry me for a few days and I would think, “THIS time I will stay inspired and I will keep moving forward.”

But after one, two, or three weeks the momentum would slip again.  It took me so long to realize that I just needed to be reading or meditating EVERY day (or more days than not), and THAT would keep my momentum!!

I can’t shower for one week and then not shower for 3 weeks and assume I will still feel clean!!!

And yet that is exactly what I was doing!

That was one of the experiences I had that gradually grew into my 7 month Mentorship Program on “Developing a Daily Practice”.

We stay inspired when we are engage with things that inspire us!!  It is that simple:)

So make a list of things that inspire you and choose something from that list every day.

Read, learn, study, breathe, move your body……….just do it!

Svadhyaya……..self study.  Study yourself in the postures, study the anatomy of the postures, study other yogis and their journey, try a different yoga class or teacher.

To be inspired is to feel alive and engaged with life.

What could be better?

As it has been said, “Only boring people are bored!” At any rate, boredom is our Soul saying it is time to learn something new or to awaken and become present in the life we are already living……..

 

Please let me know how you keep yourself inspired!  Many blessings, melaniej