“What inspires your practice?” I had to think about this for a minute after my friend recently asked me this question. Having a home practice has never been a challenge for me. I have always liked to practice. It has never been something I had to make myself do. Did I even consciously have something or someone that inspired me to practice?
I started practicing yoga as a youngster from a pocket book I noticed at the grocery store checkout. Although our living room was off limits to ‘the kids’, I was given permission to practice my yoga there. At the time, it was the cover photo of the woman standing on her head that inspired me to go to the living room every evening and practice all the poses in the book.
For many years and still now to some degree, my inspiration to practice was to recover from a horse racing accident in which I severely broke bones in my leg, ankle and foot and had to learn how to walk again. My practice was what brought me back to balance physically and mentally and that alone remains to be inspiration enough for me to get on my mat every day.
I realized after pondering this question for a few days, that there are many more reasons that inspire my practice and that those reasons may change from day to day. I am inspired by my students and by my teachers. I am inspired to practice by BKS Iyengar, Geeta and Prashant Iyengar and my dedication to bring the highest quality of teaching and practicing as set by the standards of Iyengar yoga.
I am inspired to practice in the effort to find a glimpse of ease in more challenging poses. I remain on this path because it gives my life a sense of purpose. Each time I find that peaceful, calm and integrated awareness I feel at the end of a pranayama or asana practice, I want to experience it again and again. I am inspired to practice in my search for the blissful state of being. My interest in the vast subject of yoga alone gives me reason to study, practice and continue on this path day after day after day.
What gives you inspiration to practice? What keeps you coming back to your mat every day? If you would like to share your thoughts or comments about what keeps you inspired to practice please email me at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you!
