The Beginning Prayer

I breathe in as slowly as my discipline allows. Focus is upon the oxygen that is filling my lungs and feeding my blood. I think about the oxygen in everyone, and everything. I engage in the feeling of unity.  The movement of my body is in harmony with my breath.  My shadow dances with the flicker of the flame. My eyes gaze upon the candle’s fire- and I bask in the feeling of connection.  With the inhale, I feel my being expand and fill up all the space around me. As I exhale, my muscles settle into the full expression of the posture. There is a slight pause in between the inhale and the exhale- my body feels long, lite, and enlightened. It feels like the moment before dawn, when the sky is still. The next inhale in introduced to my body like the bursting sun into the morning sky-my soul is painted with the warm and bright colors of the sunrise. Every posture awakens a different spirit. Every breath invites a perspective to that Light. Meaning, as I manipulate my body, mind and spirit- I am exchanging information between the Seen and the Unseen. Yoga is the bridge between Space and Matter. Yoga is a sacred conversation- a prayer.

 

The initial interest in Yoga derived from a desire to be healthy. I was healthy in the same sense most young women my age are. I ate fairly healthy and enjoyed physical activity. Nonetheless, I felt something was missing. I was looking for a spiritual fill. I grew up in a Christian church, and was addicted to the emotion of feeling connected to a higher being. As I grew older, the truth about religion came to surface and consequently, by the age of 20, I was totally rid of the religious beliefs I grew up with.  This step of evolution came along with a feeling of disconnect.  There was awareness of the outer-world, as well as the inner-world, and nothing to connect the two. I felt like a tree with its roots in the air. Through the magical ways of the universe, Yoga merged into life.  After about a year of asana practice, my intuition started to suggest that I become Teacher Certified-in Central America.

Logically, it didn’t make sense.

  Why Central America? How was I to be a teacher if I feel shy and uncomfortable in front of an audience? It’s close to impossible to make a living out of a yoga teacher’s pay check.  I had NO extra dollars to travel, let alone pay for a certification. 

The list went on and on in my head. Then it kept going on and on in the emails I was receiving from confused family members.

Logically, it didn’t make sense- but thankfully, I have never been the kind of girl who follows her logic sense as much as her intuition. My intuition spoke clearly, and either I was going to listen or get caught up in fear-based emotions leering from every corner. It didn’t take long before the exact amount of dollars I needed found a way into my bank account. Almost immediately after, I found the Mystical Yoga Farm in Guatemala. Before I knew it, I was on a plane to Central America, not knowing what to expect.

In Central America I learned about all the different aspects to Yoga, aside from the asana. I learned that the stretches (asanas) were originally incorporated into the yogi lifestyle in order to have the body flexible enough to sit in meditation comfortably.  I learned how to sync my mind, body and soul. I met my soul and introduced it to my mind and body. 

I found the connection I was looking for in Yoga. Every day that I practice, I learn more and more about ways to connect all the “dots” in my life experience. I hope that by sharing my thoughts, I can uplift others and encourage growth.

Namaste