Start Looking At it Differently
Posted by Max Strom
A man told me recently that he needed to do more cardiovascular work but could not make himself jog no matter how many ways he tried to motivate himself.
But then one day he played a game of Frisbee and found it really fun and exhausted himself having a great time. He finally found a way to run and exercise that he truly enjoyed. For him, he just needed to chase something.
Are you missing the motivation or wherewithal to do something that you really want to do (at least in theory)? Let’s say one physical habit you want to change is eating too much sugar, and you have been unsuccessful at overcoming this destructive habit.
Here are two creative ways to change how you frame that challenge:
1. Always come back to the constant axiom, “Will this action strengthen me or weaken me?” This can help break an unconscious action, like putting great tasting poison in your mouth, and remind you to think first and measure its true worth.
2. Ask yourself this question: “How can I transform this behavior to a new behavior that will empower me, and even be joyful?” Instead of thinking; How can I overcome this? Try, How can I overcome this and make it a joyful process? This is a totally different way of thinking. One way seems like toil, while the other includes joy as a priority.
It's All In the Way You See It
This kind of creative thinking will change your discipline into a more joyous transformation/liberation rather than suffering. Digging a deep hole in the earth is drudgery; digging a tunnel out of a prison is inspiring. Its all about your intention.
Remember:
How you envision your actions, and how you verbalize your desires has a massive impact the quality of our response.
Set your intention at the beginning of every task. And remember to create ways to complete tasks that make them seem more like play.
yoga with katy carter
Dynamic Hatha Yoga is a strong flowing practice, drawing on different styles (Iyengar, Astanga, Hatha Flow, Shadow and Yin), incorporating many of the fundamental postures of Hatha yoga.
The practice focuses on the synchronization of breath and movement, allowing the body to open slowly, gracefully, and precisely. We move through a gradually building series of vinyasas (flowing with the breath).
Each class has a slightly different emphasis, and Katy offers options throughout to cater for all levels including beginners. She emphasizes correct alignment, but also encourages students to honour their own level, cultivating an attitude of acceptance and compassion towards themselves, and building an awareness of their own unique body.
Students will develop strength and suppleness, but also a sense of mindfulness, of peace, space and presence.
Katy Carter teaches dynamic hatha yoga classes around central Auckland.
Katy has been practicing yoga for 13 years, and teaching for the last three. Having practiced a variety of yoga styles and modalities, she travelled to India to train with Yoga Arts in 2008.
She holds the internationally recognized Yoga Alliance RYT200 teaching certification.
Katy lived, taught and practiced in the UK for 15 years, and returned to NZ two years ago. Katy has been taught and inspired by many teachers, including Donna Farhi, Sarah Powers, Louisa Sear, Annie Carpenter, John Scott, Max Strom. But she owes her deepest learning to the less well-known day-to-day teachers, and of course, to the practice itself.
For Katy, yoga is not just a form of physical exercise, but a holistic way of living – literally a ‘science and art of life’. Katy firmly believes that yoga creates energy, vitality, balance, space, a sense of peace and well being, helping you feel better and more alive.
