Tuesday Quote of the Week - The Gayatri Mantra

As my last Silent Saturday feature, I simply posted a graphic of the Gayatri Yantra, a geometric design meant to visually convey the essence of the Gayatri Mantra.   It may be used to meditiate on while reciting the Gayatri Mantra.  This is the mantra, in Sanskrit:

Aum Bhur Bhuva Svah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachodayat

I find the literal English translation to be a little awkward, but there are a number of good interpretive translations that flow nicely and convey the mantra's essence.  I like this one by Swami Nardanand::

"On the absolute reality and its planes,
On that finest spiritual light,
We meditate, as remover of obstacles
That it may inspire and enlighten us."

Training Tip & Personal Yoga Challenge Update

Training Tip of the Week:
Two weeks ago, I posted an 18-minute yoga video with some great hip-opening lunges that I found enhance post-run recovery, greatly reducing tightness in the legs and hips.  My morning schedule is pretty busy, especially if I try to squeeze in a couple extra miles.  The routine in today's video is also very effective, and it only takes 11 minutes!

Personal Yoga Challenge - Mid-September Update:
I challenged myself to develop yoga into a daily habit with at least a short yoga practice each day during the month of September (National Yoga Month).  I posted this on September 8, to help hold myself accountable, and briefly updated in my September 12 weekly training summary.  As of today, the month is still intact and the streak is alive at 20 days, going back to August 28. Looking good!

A Personal Yoga Challenge

Instead of my usual Wednesday Green Choices feature, I am posting today on a personal challenge.  When making a resolution to oneself, it is often useful to share the commitment publicly, as an extra incentive to hold oneself accountable.

In recent months, I have felt steadily increasing benefits from the practice of yoga-- physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Too often, when people think of yoga, they think of only the physical practice.  That is an important part of the whole, but still only a part.  I began practicing last year.  I always thought yoga would be beneficial, and intended to try it "someday."  However, what finally drew me into actually starting the physical practice was exposure to a bit of yogic philosophy through reading.  Everything I read seemed to contain answers I sought for many questions.  Yoga is really a vehicle for recognizing the wonder of the universe and the oneness of all things through physical and mental discipline and meditation.  It trains one to better experience the joy of life and the infinite peace that may be gained just by focusing on and appreciating the wonder of each moment.
 
So, back to my personal challenge.  I wanted to get to the point that I practiced daily.  In honor of September's National Yoga Month, I resolved to make some time each day just for yoga practice, even if just a few minutes.  I think that's my key to being successful, to not set an arbitrary amount of time each day, but to leave it flexible, because there should never be a day that I can find no time at all.
 
At the end of the month, after 30 consecutive days, daily practice should just feel like a normal part of every day, and it should be fairly easy to sustain long-term. 
 
This is day 8 of my personal challenge.  So far, so good.  This morning, I warmed up before my run with a nice quick 7 ½ minute routine. I'm sure I'll also find time for at least a quick evening practice also!  The least I've practiced was 12 minutes September 4, and 20 minutes September 2.  Most days have been between 45 minutes and 1 ¼ hours.  Besides, it's never about the time.  It is the quality that is important.