I've blogged quite a bit about the benefits I've realized through my yoga practice, but I recently discovered two very tangible benefits that I thought I'd share.

The first has to do with my recent vacation. While in New York, I did not have the opportunity to physically practice, nor did I meditate at all. And even though I was having my dream vacation, I could feel the same positive energy running through me that I had only previously attributed to a good practice. This endured even after I returned to Tucson, before I had a chance to attend a class or sit down to meditate. It's like there's this kind of yoga residue that sticks with you, that we store up, even when our practice lapses for a short time. I didn't really believe that was true, though I'd heard about it, till I recently experienced it myself. Very cool!

The more tangible benefit that I attribute to my yoga practice is really to me the more remarkable of the two. I hadn't weighed myself in five or six months until earlier today. What a pleasant surprise to look down and see that I've gained 10 to 15 pounds! Really. I weighed myself again just to make sure I didn't read it wrong the first time. I believe most of that weight gain is muscle, and some of it may be due to how my yoga practice has helped normalize my metabolism. Either way, I'm very pleased.

So if you're contemplating starting or delving deeper into your own yoga/meditation practice as a new year's resolution, I'd strongly encourage it. It worked for me!

Labels: joy, new year, transformation, yoga

One of the great things about my yoga practice is that the teachers use passages from sacred or inspirational texts to start or select a theme for each class. One of my favorites is from Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet"; it's been extremely helpful in putting my impending unemployment in perspective:

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

I may periodically post other pearls of wisdom as the mood strikes me. I hope you will find this wisdom as useful and fulfilling as I have.

Labels: career, jobs, journey, joy, Khalil Gibran, personal, sorrow, wisdom