Controlling Nervous Habits

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “Making Progress.”

Controlling Nervous Habits

Look about you anywhere and you will see people taping their feet, twiddling their fingers, twisting their mouths, chewing gum, chain-smoking, pacing restlessly, indulging helplessly in dozens of nervous habits and useless actions which merely waste the life-force so that it is not available when needed. Much of this is, of course, the expression of fear, anxiety, anger and other unhealthy mental and emotional conditions.

People who practice the self-control which Yoga teaches impart a feeling of controlled energy. They are efficient; they go about their work with a minimum of effort, with no wasted energy and few unnecessary movements. They seem to get straight to the point and are always ready to take quick, forceful action when they have to.

- Richard Hittleman

The homework is to learn how your Yoga practice can help you cultivate “a feeling of controlled energy.” Work to become more aware of when you start to express your energy in a “nervous habit” and change this habitual response into an expression that is more focused and useful.

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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