Yoga More than the Downward Dog

I find yoga a chore, and hence very very rarely do it. But a week in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand had me full of the best intentions to stretch out my muscles, improve my posture, invert my body, get my ankles behind my ears, and become as flexible and lean as Gwynnie in the process. I found that what I learned was not physical, although I did sort of do a (wobbly and precarious) headstand, but fell more into the mental education. It was far from spiritual enlightenment, but certainly a boost.





1. Being out of balance is risky

Physically, yes, as it will make you ache at best and at worst fall over. But also mentally and in life. If one aspect of your life, be it relationships, work, friendships or health are a little out of kilter, it can spill over into everything else. If you feel that something isn't quite right and it is affecting the rest of your life, change it.


2. Little things make a difference

It may be that your journey to work frustrates you, so take a different bus. Your jeans may be getting tight, so have semi skimmed milk. You miss your friends, so phone them more. A little push, a little stress, a subtle change, and all can alter.





3. It's perspective

Or at least your perspective may shift. Which can be just as important. Outlook is often what is really affects life, rather than actuality. You think you can't stretch that far, but really you can. So stretch, stress, and shift outside of your comfort zone and who knows what might happen.


4. Breathe.

Whatever happens, you can always breathe.


5. The dance of life

Just a beautiful saying, and a beautiful way of seeing, and viewing, your life.



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#_thailand
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#_balance
#_perspective
#_difference

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