As our journey through life progresses, we often become more aware of the dance between two sides of us: Our habitual self in which lives all the sleights, hurts, disappointments, and frustrations we experience in our lives.
At the same, in our quiet moments, we may connect with what we might call our big S Self - that part in which feelings like forgiveness, love, compassion and joy reside.
We much prefer to spend most of our time in that big S Self. But it's not easy!
We don't get there by simply deciding to be there - that only lasts a minute or two. That big Self awareness is a feeling that must infuse our entire being to be genuine, authentic, and true.
Two things can help us reconnect with our "better half," or our best self as it is often called.
One is keeping perspective. As Rumi reminds us in the quote above, in the all too short span of our lifetime, what is really worth focusing on? From that perspective, the teaching to not plant anything but love makes perfect sense.
Perspective and mental attitude can only get us so far, however. We also need a physiology that supports the greater equanimity, and calmness where feelings of love and giving dominate our awareness.
And, you probably guessed, one way to help create this kind of balance in body and mind is yoga. In this newsletter, we offer a series of articles with tips to help introduce the ease, calm and equanimity that tends to bring out the best in us.
Somatic yoga teacher James Knight offers a video with a soothing somatic flow to bring you more present in the moment. Dr. Ray Long takes a closer look at diaphragmatic, yogic breathing and offers a video practice to help you get it right.
Olga Kabel writes on the power of nitric oxide to enhance health and well-being, and how simple breathing practices can help increase levels of this important compound.
Finally, Dr. Timothy McCall shares his insights into how to practice Bhramari Pranayama (Bees Breath) - one of the most soothing and accessible breath practices in yoga.
On the YogaUOnline side, we are very pleased to welcome back Gentle Somatic Yoga founder James Knight, who is back by popular demand to teach another livestream series - this time on Awaken the Possible: A Heart-Guided Journey of Transformation through Gentle Somatic Yoga.