Accepting Change

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering accepting change.

There has never been a time when you and I have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease to exist. As the same person inhabits the body through childhood, youth, and old age, so too at the time of death he attains another body. The wise are not deluded by these changes.

– Bhagavad Gita

In our modern civilization we try to cling to time as it rushes past, almost begging time to stop. We want to continue to be what we are now. We don’t want to be subjected to the ruthless physical changes that are an inescapable part of life. Yet it is the nature of the body to change, up to the last change we call death. Anybody who tries to cling to what is changing cannot help feeling insecure.

Yet we needn’t be helplessly caught in time. There are a number of very simple steps we can take to begin to free ourselves. One of the easiest is to get up early in the morning. This gives us the opportunity to start the day with a leisurely pace – to take a short walk, if we like, and then to have our meditation, without worrying about catching the bus or being on time for school.

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

The homework is to work to accept change. As many great mystics and philosophers have said, “change is the only constant” and “change is the only thing you can count on”. Yoga asks that we live in this present moment free from reflection of past events and from too much planning for the future. Explore how to use your yoga practice, and in particular, the breath, to support your efforts to be present and accept change.

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