Today is The International Day of Yoga 2022.
A fitting U.N.-designated day, falling as it does on Summer Solstice & also just one day ahead of official ️ P R I D E W E E K ️.
Let the light of Yoga shine on all on this, the longest brightest day & this week, the week of love, inclusion, diversity, equality, belonging for all .
In this morning’s 7:30am Morning Hatha Yoga class, I was mentioning the concept of
“ENOUGH”
Enough in our practice potentially meaning going to the place, the comfortable 'extent' in an asana (Yoga pose) where we experience ‘enough’ of a stretch.
And then experiencing (or learning how to do) that ‘off the mat’ too Yogis – like listening to the signals & messages from our bodies when we have say, for example, eaten enough; recognising the signal, the message that tells us we need to get enough sleep;
realising that (mostly) we nearly all already have more than ENOUGH – whether that’s clothes, money, food in our pantry, electronics, accolades, toys, friends, cars or bikes that are ample for our needs, homes that provide shelter & so much more.
So it was with great pleasure that I read later on in the morning that this year's theme for International Yoga Day 2022 is
"YOGA FOR HUMANITY"
with an emphasis on "promoting sustainable lifestyle in harmony with planet Earth."
According to the U.N. on its website, the "essence of Yoga is B A L A N C E – not just balance within the body or that between the mind & the body, but also balance in the human relationship with the world. Yoga emphasizes the values of mindfulness, moderation, discipline & perseverance."
The Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Yoga:
"The International Day of Yoga celebrates the restorative healing & inner peace provided by this ancient practice.
This year’s theme — Yoga for Humanity — reminds us how Yoga is truly universal.
With roots in India, Yoga is now practiced worldwide, giving people of all faiths & walks of life the tools & practices they need to enhance & balance their physical, spiritual & mental wellbeing.
For hundreds of millions of people worldwide, Yoga has also been an essential lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an important means of coping with the challenges of social isolation & stress.
And in a world beset by disaster & division, Yoga’s values of mindfulness, balance, moderation & discipline are essential as we seek out a new relationship with one another & with our planet.
On this important day, let us be inspired by this timeless practice & its values."
It is important to both be cognisant of the origins in India of Yoga & to also realise that YOGA IS FOR ALL – not just Western hemisphere wealthy white women in Lululemon pants!
…all ages, all genders, all orientations & identities, all incomes, all colours, creeds, nationalities – all abilities…
So today Yogis I invite you not only to embrace Yoga, not only to recognise & respect its' source as India but also to be grateful for the sharing & dissemination of its teachings & SHARE THE YOGA LOVE WITH OTHERS.
Let us all try to embody this year’s theme.
Cultivate a sense of mindful sufficiency. Tune into not only your own personal true health-supporting & life-enhancing needs & wants but also widen the lens beyond the personal & take your Yoga off your mat.
Balance, harmony & equity for all sentient beings on Planet Earth may seem very hard to achieve but it won’t happen unless we all start somewhere.
Scroll less, connect more;
Take less, give more;
Drive less, walk more;
Take-away less, cook more;
Sit less, move more;
Discard less, grow more;
Netflix less, read more;
Spend less, donate more;
Moan less, thank more;
Upgrade less, repair more;
Demand less, appreciate more;
Do less, just 'BE' more;
Consume less, create more;
Work less, LIVE more;
Judge less, be kind more;
Fear less, LOVE more…
Finally, why not let today also be the day that “jump-starts” your return to your mat or even simply let it encourage you to deepen your practice?
Om Shanti
Liagh ✨
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