Oh Yes You Can (Start a Home Practice)

Each morning my meditation begins with a contemplation. When I wake up, I take a moment and lay in bed before the sun even wakes up. I draw on my first thoughts that may be crossing my mind, a passage from The Radiance Sutras, a recent Brené Brown read, a Ted Talk, and when I’m feeling really uninspired, scroll through my phone’s pictures because I snap screen shots or a pic when I’m moved by something that I want to come back to later. Sometimes my mind just wanders but I find a theme that may resonate with my day to come. 

Once my contemplation is in my mind, sometimes I write a few words to get me prepared for where I wish to rest my intention further. I then get up and go for my sit at my altar with a little word or quote inspired by my contemplation. Over the years, many people have asked me how to start or maintain a home practice. I've been asked about it so much, that is one of my primary workshops that I teach on the road and at festivals, and I have now created a series at our retreat spaces. 

Anyone who asks about a home practice gets the same answer for the most part. It all starts with a daily meditation and stems from something that inspires you personally. So let’s start with just a weekly contemplation to set the stage for how we grow our yoga practice from a seed to a magnificent tree.

Below is an oldie, but goodie from my contemplation archives and one I started the first of many 30 day challenges with new students and those wishing to cultivate a deeper practice.

Man is model of the world. - Leonardo Divinci 

Leonardo Da Vinci dedicated a portion of his life and career attempting to convey the intricacies of the human form and thus, proliferated the miraculous parallels between humanity and nature. Bodily functions commence without cues…blood pumps and breath flows, independent of conscious decision much like the wiles of nature. What we are able to provide cues to are the thoughts within our minds. We can make conscious decisions to improve the soundness of our body, and consequently our minds. To do this we can employ similar artistic strategy as Da Vinci, and begin by appreciating the numerous factors that make up our wellness.

Today’s contemplation rests upon DiVinci’s words. How do you wish for a conscious commitment to affect your life physically, mentally and emotionally? Can you commit to your practice for this training? In simpler terms, what do you want to get out of the next few months together if you decide to step up?