10 Life Changing Guidelines for Your Yoga Practice – Part 1 of 3

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.

1. “The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.”
   This is one of my favorite quotes. To me it expresses that when we acknowledge the sacredness of our body, mind and soul and consciously bring them into balance, we experience the magic of feeling fully alive, fulfilled and at peace.
   
   
2.  “Yoga, an ancient but perfect science, deals with the evolution of humanity. This evolution includes all aspects of one’s being, from bodily health to self-realization. Yoga means union – the union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul.” 
   To me this lovely quote states that yoga encompasses a deep and extensive practice of body, mind and soul and goes beyond the time we spend on our yoga mat. To maintain our bodily health we practice asana, healthy thoughts and actions and feed our bodies nourishing foods. To unite our body consciousness with our soul consciousness we meditate, learn, grow and apply mindfulness to our lives. Iyengar encourages us to evolve and to become open to discovering the unity and consciousness within us and the interconnectedness to all.
3. “When you inhale, you are taking the strength from God. When you exhale, it represents the service you are giving to the world.”
   Taking every breath consciously and with full awareness requires practice and complete awareness of the present moment. In your yoga practice or in your daily life breath changes your perception, emotions and mood. I like to encourage my yoga students, and of course myself, to look at every breath we take as something precious, unique and divine. To fully experience and indulge in the process of breath. To feel the oxygen enter your nostrils, breathing the air all the way into your chest, ribcage and belly, filling your lungs completely and then breathing out slowly, enjoying the sensation of the air leaving your body through your nostrils. We take our breaths for granted and it is an amazing experience to become fully aware of our breath, making it a sacred and special ceremony.