I just read Tracy’s post about being aware of the personalities in your own self – how important it is to be mindful and in the ‘now’ instead of always living in the past or trying to fly into the future.
It reminds me of what I gleaned from T’ai Chi and Bikram Yoga (yes, I’m on about Bikram again). Life is a practice. You just do it again. Then you do it again. Then once more – make a small change – think about the movements and don’t get distracted with what’s going on in the peripherals. Then you do it again. Then once more. Than again. There’s no race, no ‘end’, nothing to ‘get to’ – you’re there – you just do it again. Lather, rinse, repeat.
I love that about both T’ai Chi and Bikram Yoga – it just repeats but it’s always different. The different is from within me – the world will turn regardless of what I do – so I need to be the ‘difference’ in my life. I crave repetition with change. For me – that is what my life is. Repetition with change. I just do it again.
My life is my practice. I always have another chance to do it again. Always.
The Mercenary Researcher 
So that’s why I feel like I’m on repeat. It’s supposed to be that way. Thanks for clearin’ that up. And WOOT for the sweaty Yoga mention. We are all about Yoga these days. I’m wondering about Ta’i Chi – is it easier than Yoga? I’m thinking it’s not as bendy.
I’d like to get this stomach flu or whatever off the rinse cycle though. Bleh.
I love T’ai Chi – it’s ‘easier’ than Yoga but it’s not – it’s just very different. In comparison with Bikram Yoga, it’s repetitive – but the challenge is to have good form and be slow –
But regular yoga is always different – and I can’t get a regular Yoga-Groove, as it were – just for HOT yoga!
We’ve had stomach crud in Tucson too –
The Christian Yoga is kinda of scary 🙂
Great perspective, my lovely friend!
I love The Kinks!
me too!! I would have loved to see them in their heyday.
That makes two of us!
Be the change you want to see, and it will happen.
YES!
It repeats but it is different. I love this. I will adopt this mantra next time I am feeling flat to help push that extra bead of sweat and energy out of my limbs at Bikram. =)
I know you will do it – then do it again. I battle all the ‘floor on the stomach postures’ and I’m working hard to stop battling them and just let them be.
The video looks fab!
I wish I felt this as true in my own life. I think it depends how turbulent things are maybe? That the world will keep turning is certainly true. I think I need to work on being as centred as you are. It’s admirable.
I spend a lot of time in my own head – so maybe that’s it – it has come with age and concentration – and a need for repetition (not mindless busy work- that’s drudgery) – it’s a balm for my hyperactive soul. I don’t think it’s necessarily admirable – it’s just, for me, when things are turbulent that repetition helps me to focus.
I hear you, but when it comes to yoga, doing the same thing over and over just bores me, which is odd, considering how much I like my routine. 😉 But I definitely need to get better at living in the now.
We are different people. I love my job b/c it’s always different but within the context of it being somewhat routine. But we hardly ever do anything again & again the exact same way. That’s the beauty for me –
I think you’re just more enlightened than me. But I’ll get there some day…
Hardly. I just love repetition – it’s probably some sort of something in the DSM IV.
Yes, you’re probably on a spectrum somewhere. Lord knows I am. 😉
the Human Spectrum ?
One can only hope…
Possibly ape – I’m pretty hairy.
Yeah, You really got me going. A friend who taught yoga once told me of the Yogic principles, and the Satya really made sense. Leaves you head open with room to learn!
It’s so simple yet so hard – we are our own worst enemy.
Isn’t that the truth.
And props to you for the Kinks quote in your comment – I forgot to mention it ~
Chop wood, carry water! Or something like that.
I like the idea of simplicity in that you can repeat something countless times with intention, but it is never the same.
So simple – yet so hard to do at times.
I like that there’s a slight sitar effect to Dave Davies’ guitar on the break at 1:24. Seems fitting to your topic, somehow. Love that song.
HA! And the shooting gallery is called “Muswell Hillbillys!” Another great Kinks album.
Oh you bettcha, Rosemary!
Me too – I love The Kinks – they’re on right now as I work. Good ear regarding the Sitar.
Listening to the brand new Frank Turner release.
Listening to Recovery on YouTube – not bad!
I love this perspective. So simple and so true.
Thank you – I think some of the answers are redonkoulously simple and we miss them b/c we want it to be complex and HARD.
So true. I’ve spent a lifetime making things hard. It’s keeping it simple that takes practice!
Yes, in T’ai Chi we talked a lot about being still and doing less movement to get more. It’s harder to do less – we always want to move, adjust, fidget etc. Being still is the hardest thing –
So true, Denise. When I was doing Bikram, I found that every single class was different. The room, the people, my body and it was wonderful to focus, just on the now. I get to do that frequently in my healing practice – be in the now and focus on who is in front of me (and inside me, for that matter).
And it’s such an “ahhhhh” kind of feeling. Sometimes when things are so in sync – it would make me worry that things are going toooo well – now I’m finding that I can accept that too.