Focus Forward Friday: Mix it Up!

You see that silly graffiti-like illustration? Yeah, well, it's actually serious business. The picture's from (can you guess?) Starbucks, the inventor of Rituals. Sure, you need your cafe latte just right, but no drama in yoga class. No drama, my friends.

Focus Forward Friday: A weekly ritual for deepening your Bikram practice.

Today's focus: please don't create rituals for yourself in the Hot Room! How many of you set up your mat in the same place every time you practice? Have to have a certain water bottle to survive class? Require a specific amount of distance between your body and your fellow yogi classmates?


Get out of your own head! This is madness! No drama in the room. No craziness. You don't need all the fuss you think you do. It's just like when you resist the urge to wipe sweat, fix your hair, pull on your shorts. You don't need it. You think you do, but you don't.


All you need is the breath, in and out, the still mind, the postures. Cut all the other crap and watch how it transforms your yoga!


I'm over halfway through 30 days of straight Bikram every day, my big challenge. And I leave the rituals at the door. I change up my location in the room between where it's hot and cool, crowded and spread out, close to the mirror or far away. I bring different water bottles, and sometimes I don't drink at all.


I rely on nothing but the teacher's words and my body's movement to get me through class. Because that's all it is: THE YOGA. Not the drama, not the madness. Not the Monkey Mind. And guess what? I have better, more strengthening classes because of this conscious decision to be aware. To let go.

Just do the yoga. Pick something new to let go of today. Challenge yourself. Set your intention. 

And then stick to it.

My papa is in Colorado for work right now, and he recently sent me this beautiful picture of what he calls aspens that are a riotous shade of yellow. I couldn't agree more. And how beautiful when you find something simple, pure, serene. Love you, Dad!