"Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again." Joseph Campbell.
I love the above quotation by Joseph Campbell. It reminds me of what you can gain from a home yoga practice. A thoughtfully designed yoga practice at home in which you infuse a touch of the sacred allows you to discover and "find" yourself at a deeper level.
The past few days during our holiday season, I have been musing about "sacredness" because despite the commercialism that can be difficult to ignore, the celebration by many of Christmas, Hannukah, and Kiwanza causes us to focus on the sacred side of life. A vital facet of life.
How much less fulfilling our lives would be if we had no sacredness, if we didn't recognize and honor the most important things in life which Helen Keller said "are invisible." Reflecting on sacredness should not be limited to spiritual holidays or weekly church, temple, or mosque services. We need to include sacredeness in our daily lives. And, one way to do this is by engaging in a soothing, gentle yoga practice at home in which you add your personal sacred touch. In my view, a "sacred" home yoga practice goes beyond the mere mechanics of the movements.
This doesn't mean that you have to become all "woo-woo" and start burning incense or have to buy a music CD of Indian sitar music to listen to as you stretch and hold yoga poses (although there is nothing wrong with these options). It does mean, however, in my opinion, that you add a personal ritual that makes your practice FEEL special and sacred. For me this involves lighting battery operated candles (I know I know- they're not quite as romantic as real candles - but, they're much safer!), choosing a piece of music that makes my heart soar, and physically touching my heart with my hands and stating an intention aloud as I begin my practice.
What's the additional benefit of adding a sacred touch to your practice? If you're a yoga newbie, you will find it that much easier to maintain a daily practice. Daily practice over time gives you enormous compound interest in your mind, body, and spirit. Give it a try - no later than tomorrow!
Yours for creating a daily sacred yoga practice,
Laura Venecia Rodriguez, The Beginners Yoga at Home Coach (for real, regular people)
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