 There are many people in the world who still view the word 'yoga' as something completely 'out there'... Tree huggers, incense, die-hard vegans, impossible feats of flexibility and basically not very appealing to your average Joe. Well here's the thing... We are not all like that. We are normal everyday people just trying to get by in this crazy world who happen to have found something to make everything better. You see 'yoga' is not about all those things. It's about a way of living that is real and true and present. It's about breathing and being friendly and not taking things for granted. It's about being honest. If you can stand or sit and look at the people around you, everything around you, with equanimity then you are practicing yoga. Because it is the art of understanding the mind and the modifications of the mind that are the real practice. One of those three modifications is the 'ego' - a three letter word that rules our world - that takes us constantly from 'like it' to 'want it' to 'gotta have it'. You know the one. The other two are the intellect; our discerning quality of mind, and the 'monkey mind' - the part that jumps around from one thing to another constantly and is never satisfied. All these three things work together and give us the energy for action. So with some understanding of the mind our practice is to gain some mastery through focus. And that can be anything - it doesn't have to be the physical practice of yoga, which in fact is quite a small part of the practice, it is supposed to be the mindfulness and consciousness that you bring to 'any' action you perform. You see, yoga is not so hard to understand or 'do' but, through practice of certain 'do's' and 'dont's', which is NOT easy, we just try to be kind and truthful and 'real'. If you like coffee and hamburgers and wine can you practice yoga? Of course you can! If you can't touch your toes can you practice yoga? Of course you can! Fact is the more mindful you are of 'you' you will begin to discern what is doing you good and what isn't. It's a natural process of looking after 'you' and being the best you can be 'now'. That's all. Just show up with the intention if being present and being the best that you can be and you will be practicing yoga!
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