Things I Learned From... Traditional Sun Salutations

Sun Rising with Hot Air Ballons

As many of you know, I am not a fan of using the sun salutations in their traditional sequence over and over and over again.  As we've played with these in class, I usually mix it up by adding different modifications or postures at various points in the traditional sequence.  Still a sun salute but not the traditional sequence over and over and over.  This morning, I practiced my salutes traditionally 3 of each series A, B & C.  Making only one modification I twisted my lunge in the final C salutation.

How many times a week do you do the same thing over and over and over again.  Oh man... for me it's the dishes, the laundry, cutting vegetables, driving to and from Des Moines... the list goes on.  The correlation of my approach to and mindset during these activities and the traditional sun salutations offers an opportunity to explore.  Here's what I learned from the experience and my further reflection...

Olivia & Lynn - Twisted Lunge

• It is easy to get bored in a repetitive activity... to lose interest in the present moment.  These activities present a great challenge to practice with a Beginner's Mind.  To approach life with a beginner's mind, we experience life as if it was the first time doing/hearing/seeing/feeling whatever it is in that moment.
• It feels good to let creativity grow in the subtlety of the daily constants.  
• A deep and steady breath calms a monkey mind.
• Joy is not only found in the crazy, big and unique opportunities.  Joy is found within... ALWAYS.
• A twist may be all you need to break the monotony.  
• Begins and ends with the heart.

Namaste _/|\_