One of the things that sticks out in my mind from the spiritual teachings in India is “A Yogi is not afraid to be challenged.” And this isn't "challenging" like who can hold a handstand the longest. This is more about "challenging" like having the courage to commit to something you know you need but have been avoiding. (Been there!) It’s knowing you will resist, probably every day, and having the wisdom that feeling resistance means you need to spend time breaking through.

The second limb of the eight limbs of yoga is called the Niyamas, and one of the five Niyamas is Tapas.  Tapas translates to "fiery discipline" – like fire in the belly to change and grow and evolve, but knowing it doesn’t just happen overnight. So, we invoke discipline to achieve it.

We all have our patterns, and if we don’t change the patterns then (drumroll.... this is obvious!) we don’t change. 

You cannot stay the same and change. You just can’t.  

Having the courage to take the challenge, do the daily practice, and NOT listen to the voices in your head telling you to keep doing what you did yesterday and the day before instead of this new practice. 

Full disclosure: I feel this resistance every single day. 

This needs to be done, that needs to be done, do the things you always do and skip the practice that is the one thing that will actually get you out of the rut.  The resistance is POWERFUL and it takes tapas, fiery discipline to break free.

Our only option on the path of change and growth is to TRANSCEND. Transcend the old patterns, transcend the resistance. Transcend “I am too busy, I will do it tomorrow.”

There is a difference between knowing intellectually what the benefits of practice are and actually really doing the practice regularly.  As my Energy Medicine Yoga teacher, Lauren Walker says, “You are always training the dog. When you are not training the dog, you are training the dog.”

I'm hosting our signature program, BeYou: A 21-day transformation that meets for 4 weeks on Tuesday starting February 19th. We make it easy for you to commit to yoga, meditation, positive health choices and techniques like Desire Mapping to get to the root of what you want from your life. I'll be right there with you in the process. We evolve together as a group, holding each other accountable and creating new daily rituals by the end of 21 days! Scroll for the details and registration link!

In light,
Blaine

Enjoy Mala making and doTERRA essential oil-infused mocktails!