I am so tired. I am not flexible. My groin hurts. I stink. Gross, I am sweating like a pig. That person in front of me has a big butt.

And so on, and so on, and so on.

Is this focusing on the good stuff in your yoga class? Ummmmm...maybe in Bizarro world.

There are certain phases of "yoga evolution" in your pratice. When you first begin, it's all about your body, the mental challenge of just getting through, and trying to finish the class without crumpling into a ball of despair.

That first stage could take years or days - depending on the individual.

The next stage in the yoga evolution is when you realize that once you have the poses down, and once the body gets used to the yoga - there is much more to discover. You start to notice if you are present in your practice or if your mind tries to take you out of the room floating on a strawberry to cotton candy land. Then you start to train yourself to stay present and connected. You realize that you are in control of staying in the present moment, connecting to the breath. Your thoughts are not driving your car.

Once you have mastered the first 2 stages in your yoga evolution - now the tricky third step.

Can you focus on the good stuff?

Can you train your mind and body and every single cute yoga cell in you to always remember and KNOW the amazingness that you are? That you are becoming healthy, that you are healing yourself, that you are working towards a calmer, more peaceful life?

That you are burning up toxins in your body, that you are assisting in helping your internal organs run smoother?

That you are creating a flatter stomach and tighter rear end?

That you are practicing yoga for reasons that you may have not even discovered yet, and yoga may take you to the next great chapter in your life?

Now that's what I'm talkin about!

When you are on that yoga mat and the familiar thoughts of bad stuff try to float into your head...

Train yourself to take a mental flyswatter and swat that thought into the universe where it will explode into tiny little pieces and get sucked into a black vortex, where it belongs.

Then bring in a thought covered in cotton candy clouds, rainbows and pixiedust. Or whatever floats your good stuff boat.

And then watch the magic happen.

Peace
Andrea

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