HOW EVERYONE CAN LEARN FROM MUMS – THE YOGA TEACHING OF MINDFULNESS
“In the end there is no book, no teacher, better than life itself”
I would like to dedicate this article to Mums & the those special teachers in life we call our parents (in particular my own Mum) , given Sunday is MOTHERS DAY. I appreciate that there are many people who may not have their Mums with them today, so I invite you to use this article to give thanks to our teachers in life (those with us and to those that have passed) but also contemplate how we can ‘pass the lessons learned forward’) Weather you are a parent or not we are all sons/daughters and we all are ‘teaching’ children every day (even if we are not intending to)
I am often reminded from many Yoga Teachers around the world that the highest form of Yoga Practice & Teaching is being a parent. This also came up at the Yoga Australia Conference at a number of the discussions, and again at Yoga Teacher Training in Melbourne.
There is often a desire for parents or anyone who has experienced the powerful & transformational benefits of Yoga to want to suggest strongly (make) their children, partners, families & the whole wide world practice YOGA! (It feels so good and it strengthens EVERY ASPECT of your life, right!!)
It is useful however to come back to the principle of sthira & sukha ie EQUANIMITY (Effort without Tension). Sometimes we get so passionate in wanting to share something that has changed our lives for the better that we can “over do the encouragement” . When we over do anything it can often lead to disconnection rather than connection (union). Therefore what may come from good intentions may still be an imposition if there is no “space” for people to find their own way.
At the Yoga Australia Conference there was a great discussion regarding the Yoga Sutras. It was suggested that any great teaching/learning needs to come out of an “understanding” and this cannot happen if it is “imposed”
Anything imposed is not sustainable.
The Pillars of Mindfulness can help us (as Mothers, Parents, Daughters, Sons, Husbands/Wives) to appreciate that this idea of UNION (the meaning of the word YOGA) is an experience of feeling ‘whole’. People may have different ways and means of helping them feel connected in this way. By learning more about Mindfulness I have realised that a feeling of connection and wholeness (where the roots of the word ‘health’ comes from) can be cultivated from qualities of mind such as Patience, Acceptance & Trust (these just three of the Pillars of being Mindful)
Knowing these wonderful concepts doesn’t always help us to “act” in this way. So until the conepts of Mindfulness help us to take action in a skillful way they remain just another ‘nice’ idea. As it says in the Gita –
Yoga is skillful action.
For me coming to my Yoga mat and being challenged to find the balance between strength & ease in my potures (asana) has helped me find these same qualities in my mind. It is these same qualities that help me to experience a sense of GRATITUDE for my life expereience & FOR MY MUM for deliberately not imposing what she felt was “right” on me and instead encouraging me to find my own way.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUSTING THE PROCESS OF THOSE YOU LOVE
By practicing Yoga (on the mat) and reading the Yoga Sutras I was able to reflect on my relationship with my Mum and appreciate how she taught me Yoga (without me even knowing it)
Thanks Mum for leading by example showing me the practice of PATIENCE. You waited for me to come to conclusions in my own time (this helped me understand things rather than ‘blind faith’ and simply being told your way is the “right way” I probably would have rebelled against that anyway. You did say ‘Mothers know best’ but at the end of the day you let me find out for myself.
Thanks Mum for showing me the practice of ACCEPTANCE. Even though I was organised in a creative way (sometimes you called this messy) you still encouraged me to follow my true ‘Nature’. You explained there is many different churches, and religions and when the time is right I can make my own choice. Even though I was keen and eager to get it all figured out, you explained “not to rush the process” (your words though were don’t be like a bull at a gate Tamara!) You suggested that in the meantime learn how to focus your mind on the basics in life and “clean up your room” – I guess you were teaching me the yogic concept of ‘Saucha’ – cleanliness 😉
Most of all THANKS MUM for showing me you TRUST my process. You held space for me to follow my own heart, even on those occasions you knew it was going to hurt. You always encouraged me to grow and learn from my own life experience. You taught me many other ways to be MINDFUL, like learning how to LET GO, not be so hard on myself (NON STRIVING) & Jack (my step Dad) taught me how to have a sense of humour about all you were trying to teach me (haha) But all jokes aside…..
By YOU TRUSTING my process I LEARNT HOW TO TRUST MY OWN PROCESS TOO!
This has been one of the most helpful things anyone has ever done for me to grow, stay healthy & begin to ‘understand’ my own personal relationship with FAITH.
For this Mum I am forever in your debt for you have taught me the true meaning of the word LOVE.
“In the end there is no book, no teacher, better than life itself”
I would like to end with a great “peace” of advice from one of my first Meditation Teachers (Don Spencer) that I am still practicing as best as I can by the way (haha)
When you find yourself so passionate about something that you cannot help but tell people they should do it too (eg Yoga & Meditation) –
“Go & Meditate”
Namaste & have an awesome day:)
Tammy
