Inspired by the quotes of the legendary yogi, B.K.S. Iyengar, I would like to offer ten life changing guidelines for your consideration. They may be incorporated into your yoga practice or, even if you are not practicing yoga, they can be nicely applied in your everyday life.
Living by these principles allows you to make your life and yoga practice rich, fulfilling and meaningful.
8. “Change is not something that we should fear. Rather, it is something that we should welcome. For without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom, and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they’re meant to be.”
Knowing and accepting that change is part of life, we allow ourselves to make the most of our present moment. When we embrace change, we open up to all possibilities. Heraclitus, the pre-Socractic Greek philosopher, said that “Change is the only constant in life”. Becoming aware of that fact, we can choose to appreciate all that we have, learn, grow and follow our intentions to become the person we are meant to be. As Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world.” By changing yourself and your perception, you inevitably change how you see the world and how the world responds to you.
9. “The whole thrust of yogic philosophical and scientific inquiry has therefore been to examine the nature of being, with a view to learning to respond to the stresses of life without so many tremors and troubles.”
Yoga encourages us to examine who we are by providing us with a variety of techniques, such as breath work (pranayama), meditation, present moment awareness, asanas and conducts. By understanding the nature of our being, we learn to stay centered, peaceful, calm and loving even in stressful situations.
Yoga encourages us to examine who we are by providing us with a variety of techniques, such as breath work (pranayama), meditation, present moment awareness, asanas and conducts. By understanding the nature of our being, we learn to stay centered, peaceful, calm and loving even in stressful situations.
10. “Illuminated emancipation, freedom, unalloyed and untainted bliss await you, but you have to choose to embark on the Inward Journey to discover it.”It sounds simple and yet it is not always easy to pause and become fully aware of our inner self. By taking the journey inside, we discover our path, balance our mind body spirit and emotions, and open up to a depth of understanding, truth and wisdom that we can only attain when we become still and listen. Yoga, pranayama, meditation and mindfulness practices offer ways to connect to our inner world, as are activities that bring us joy and allow us to stay in the present moment, such as being out in nature, spending quality time with a loved one, painting, knitting, etc.
Wishing you freedom, bliss and happiness!
