Last November, on a whim, I took my first yoga class while at my fitness club. I didn’t know it at the time, but I’d walked into a class led by a teacher of Anusara Yoga, which means, “flowing with Grace,” or “following your heart.” The teacher said things like, “scoop the tailbone,” “let your heart shine out from the pose,” “inflate the kidneys,” “inner spiral the thighs,” and “watch your shoulder loop.” Confused, exhausted and drenched in sweat, I loved every minute of it.

Now a dedicated student of Anusara, I am blown away by the physical, spiritual and mental benefits provided by my yoga practice. While on the mat, I experience mental focus and calm, the sweat pours down my face, energy centers are alive and activated and I bend and twist my body into poses I never thought possible (or I gleefully fall out of them, knowing I am on my way). I am, quite honestly, a born-again yogi (yoga dork of sorts), and have found that the benefits of my practice extend beyond my purple sticky mat into many parts of my life.

With this in mind, I’d like to share three key areas of Anusara practice that may prove valuable in your life journey: they are attitude, alignment and action. In yoga practice, this means establishing an attitude (or intention) that opens to grace and Spirit and allows for the blossoming of our true self. Alignment means having an integrated awareness of the different parts of the body at all times. And action is the performance and flow of the poses, all of which are an expression of the heart, of muscular stability and an organic expansiveness. 

These same concepts can easily be applied to life off the mat, whether when making desired life transformations, facing a tough decision, or trying to complete a challenging project. Checking in on each area doesn’t need to take long and it can help keep you balanced and on track.

Say, for example, you want to lose 25 pounds. First, what is your intention as you approach this challenge? Are you going to have an attitude that says losing weight will be “so difficult it’s nearly impossible and I’ve always failed in the past,” or will your intention be, “losing a couple pounds at a time is easy, and I enjoy being outside walking and exercising --- plus, I love cooking healthy food!”  Which serves you best in moving forward? Lose the attitude that will hold you back and choose the one that will move you in your intended direction.

And what about alignment? How does losing weight align with the expression of your soul? How does it fit into your larger life vision? Will losing 25 pounds help you fully step into who you are in this world? What do you need to pay special attention to as you progress? Are you fully committed to the process and willing to dedicate time, energy and resources to the goal? What other resources or support systems do you need to “line up” so that you can be successful? Remember that when properly aligned, things fall into place naturally.

After you’ve checked in on the first two, you can move into action. Create and follow realistic, detailed action plan. Remember your intention and to maintain alignment as you act. This is your chance to share your new life choice with the world. Show your friends, family and colleagues that you are dedicated to losing weight not by talking about it, but through focused action. Express from the heart who you are and find the balance between muscular strength (dedication) and organic flexibility.

Again, this can be applied to anything. Thinking of buying a new car? Do the check in. Attitude: Is the car a frightening financial burden, a fun extra kick, or just a practical vehicle? What’s behind your desire to buy the new car? Alignment: Can you afford the car? Are you willing to commit money to this purchase? Will you spend cash? If not, what loans need to be lined up? Action. Do some research, test drive a bunch of cars and make your best decision. Be ready to drive away in a car that you know is the right one.

On the mat, the yogi uses action to express his attitude through the alignment of the body. Now you can use action to express your attitude/intention through the alignment of your life with your soul.

May we all flow with grace.

Copyright © 2003 Devin Wilson

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