Monday, August 20, 2012

The cultivation of sensitivity.......


Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the cultivation of sensitivity. 

Just as a flower gives out its fragrance to whomsoever approaches or uses it, so love from within us radiates towards everybody and manifests as spontaneous service.

- Swami Ramdas

Many of us find it difficult to be compassionate towards other people for the simple reason that most of our sensitivity is directed towards ourselves. The less we dwell on ourselves, the more our sensitivity will open out to the needs and feelings of others.

Every time you hurt someone and then grieve inside because of it, you are attending a valuable seminar on sensitivity. It is a seminar at the deepest and most personal level, the experiential, and it is infinitely more effective than anything we can attend for college credit. The credit comes to us directly, when we change our behavior and don't hurt people again. "Everybody's feelings can be hurt," we realize, "just like my own. I have to take others' feelings into consideration in what I do."

Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran

The homework is to use the training ground of your Yoga practices to develop external sensitivity - a sensitivity that is directed towards others.  In order to practice Yoga asana safely we have to develop sensitivity in our practice.  We have to learn to be present and aware and use these qualities to inform our practice.  Learn how the sensitivity you bring to your asana practice translates to your life off of the mat.  

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003

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