Are You Living in Alignment?
Are you living in alignment?
You may be wondering what exactly does it mean to live in alignment?
Well, a quick google search will tell you that living in alignment can mean a lot of different things. Living in the present moment. Living with purpose. Living consciously. Living out your values.
When I think of living in alignment, I think about all of those qualities and more.
Living consciously in alignment with yourself means to me, living in alignment with the values, intentions, and a clear awareness of what you do and how you do it.
A few years ago, I set my mantra to be TRUTH. I don’t mean just telling the truth, that was something I always did. But to live in the truth about what I want. Truth about who I am. Truth about how I feel. And, to express myself authentically without concerning myself with what others think about me. Consciously living in my TRUTH, every single day was my mantra.
It was an amazing journey. As I saw pivots in my life. Breaking away from unhealthy relationships, family and friends. Making time for myself to build physical and emotional strength. Saying no to over-committing or giving myself away to those who did not appreciate me or my acts of service.
Our yoga practice can serve as an observation lab too. By observing our attitudes towards our body in how we approach our yoga practice. Not just the physical practice, but the spiritual, and energetic practices too. Intention vs. autopilot. Effort vs. force. Ease vs. tension.
We observe our intentions and values by observing how we react or respond during the practice. Are you willing to make time for centering and contemplation? How do you engage in the energetics of breath work and mudras? With ease or resistance? Are you more concerned with how you look in the poses vs. how you feel?
How do you respond to a slower pace? Do you find yourself resisting a slow practice? Sometimes we are anxious and want to move our bodies fast, even if that isn’t really what we need. Or the ego wants to take over and move us into poses that are unsafe or unproductive.
Do you find it difficult to move your body at all? Is stagnation taking over your motivation and clarity? Sometimes our minds are dull and though we need more movement, we resist.
How do you treat yourself at the end of the practice? Are you rushing off the mat to get to the next thing on your to-do list? Do you find discomfort in silence? Or are you able to accept the gifts of relaxation? Do you make time to restore your body, soul, and mind?
What about during the day when you are not on your mat? How do you take these same intentions and values for yourself and your life off the mat?
These responses are all indications of what we value. What kind of relationship we have with our body. And, how we move through life.
Now is a great time for a reset. Time to bring awareness to the habitual patterns and behaviors that serve us and those which do not. Time to set positive intentions for how we practice yoga and how we take those practices into our daily lives.
What does this new year symbolize for you? What intentions will you set? How will you live in alignment now?