June 2022 week 1

Welcome to June, summer is coming and perfect timing for us to work with the 4th Yama, Brahmacharya, meaning non excess. Together in the Calm Crew we have the opportunity to enact the balance that is yoga in all that we do and this Yama will be very helpful for us. We can bring moderations to our thoughts, words and deeds, but of course first we gather in this group for the opportunity to self reflect on any of these areas of our lives that we may be playing out in excess. The American culture is “more” and so we need to keep pulling back into ourselves and connect with our personal intention.
Brahmacharya is the feeling of freedom that comes when we have let an addictive craving go or when we take care of ourselves by not overdoing. It requires courage. The over indulgence of Brahmacharya imposes itself on the joy of the moment. Whether we find ourselves overdoing food, work, exercise or sleep - excess is often the result of forgetting the sacredness of life.
Most of us associate moderation or abstinence with repression. However we see that the chaos of excess brings us pain and anguish - and that the calm, clear energy released by moderation or abstinence actually affords us the opportunity to realize our dreams and live as our intention states for this month: I am Meant to Live in Peace. How do we do this?? Prayer - this is about yoga, but prayer is the original spiritual practice. Prayer brings us back from the brink, prayer makes the impossible, possible. PRAYER IS THE MEANS BY WHICH WE FORMALLY SURRENDER. Going to our mat is a form of surrender and shavasana is our surrender at the end of our practice. Let’s keep it simple: practice yoga, gather in meditation and start and end our days with simple prayers of help me, guide me and thank you!