Finding the edge and ease

I receive emails from the DailyOm each and every day to help inspire me. They help me keep my eyes open to the nuances of the small moments as the day moves by. All right, let’s be honest, if I catch even one moment it’s a win for me. Lol

An email in my inbox recently titled “Apply Gentleness to Everything” reminded me of something that many yoga instructors say, myself included, “Find the edge and ease in our yoga practice.” It’s usually referred to when you are in a particularly vigorous pose but can be applied to each and every pose as well as our thoughts and actions in everyday life. 

Used while on our mats, edge and ease refers to a particular softening and strengthening found in your body, mind and spirit while settling into your posture. For instance, in Warrior poses, sinking deeper, or engaging the muscles more, reaching through the fingertips, yet softening the shoulders down the back. In your mind thinking; where is my edge today, being aware mentally, what does my body need today? Even softening the thoughts in the mind to accept where you are in that moment and finding the edge where your body can comfortably push itself. If you feel a rebelling in the body/mind/spirit, being respectful and honoring yourself, not pushing too far and maybe even backing out and reestablishing a place of ease.  

Let’s apply that to everyday life. When have you felt resistance, obstacles, struggle in your life? More like, when have you not?! How many times have you tried to push through or force your thoughts or feelings on another and when has it actually been beneficial or accepted? I am not saying don’t have your own opinions or beliefs but rather start by asking yourself, “does this person want my opinion or do they just need to talk?” A quote in the DailyOM email says, “Struggle and strife can find no foothold when confronted with gentleness because conflict can only exist when fed by two opposing forces.” Be a conduit of loving acceptance, compassion and patience, hear and understand not just what is being said but what is the emotion behind it. Sometimes it really doesn’t matter what you believe in this instance. We need to stop treating life as a constant competition of who is smarter, has more, funnier, happier or just plain better. Is it worth getting into an argument over? Life is full of good, bad, happy and sad and when we come to terms that most of us are doing the best we can and need support, kindness, acceptance and love, we find a place of ease. 

Our Western culture seems to dictate to us to continually find our edge - by pushing ourselves to do more, be better, no pain no gain mentality. We go as far as to compare our edge to others' edges, what weight are they lifting, how far are they running, how much do they have? I am definitely not saying don’t challenge yourself, but what is wrong with allowing the body, mind and/or spirit to just BE? Can you be satisfied with where you are right now and revel in where you’ve come from and enjoy this moment or are you already moving on to the next thing? Are you perhaps addicted to that high received when your body spikes with nervous energy of attaining whatever you were looking to attain?...Mmmm, that may not be your endorphins or dopamine coming to the rescue - it may be cortisol or adrenaline. I’m not going to go into a science lesson since, thank goodness for google, you can find all you need if you're interested, but what I will say is, too much of anything in the body is never good. 

Have you ever heard of the phrase, we aren’t human doings, we are human beings? Why not take some time and think about what this really means in your life. Do you always need to be doing something, achieving something, learning something, running here, there and everywhere? Why not take a deep breath (or even a few) sit down and just be; find ease? Be at the dinner table, be in your home, be in your car while driving, be with the person you are sitting with. Be on vacation with your loved ones. Stop the forward momentum of hurling yourself into the present - you’ll get there. I challenge you, stop, take a deep breath, look around, see, feel, relax and be at ease. Do this a few times a day and maybe you will see or feel something truly amazing. 

   I wish you all, love light laughter, health and happiness - Namaste,

Terry