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Thursday, October 14, 2010
Taking A Moment
Whenever I teach, I continually stress the importance of clearing the mind: stopping the mind from jumping and seeing if we can focus on one thing for more than a couple of seconds. This clearing of the mind in yoga class is purely a practice for real life, and it brought to mind a few experiences where I have seen it used successfully.
First, I see Tiger Woods and many professional athletes doing it all the time. When they hit a successful shot, I know what was going through their head during the shot - absolutely nothing. A golfer stands there in silence as he prepares his mind. Then, when he or she is ready, they begin, focusing on their back swing with full concentration. No wonder they require silence before they take their shot, before the diver jumps off the board, or the tennis player serves a ball.
I speak from my personal experience as a teenager; I was a competitive diver. I realized recently that I was using my yoga practice each time I would step on the board at age 13 without awareness. I had this technique, which almost all divers do, to stop about halfway across the board, before they begin their approach. I would never begin my approach to the end of the board until my mind was clear and I was focused on the present moment. Then, when I was ready, I would take each step, watching it, placing each foot with thoughtfulness, and finally bend my knees to take that jump. Without fail, if I was focused, I would be successful. If I wasn't, it was only frustration when I came up for air again.
In tennis as well, people would often tease me for bouncing the ball so many times before I went to serve. As a child, I never knew why I liked to do it, but now I know...I was focusing.
This week, a friend of mine who doesn't practice yoga, sent me an article about a successful study where men who practiced yoga performed better in bed. He asked me if I thought it was true. I can only say that as a yoga teacher, athlete, and liver of life, everything we do with mindfulness has a much greater chance of success. When people get the high score, win a game or an argument, or accomplish difficult tasks, it is because they were focused. They had a clear mind, and were not thinking of their shopping list for the grocery store during their event. If men start taking their thoughts from the office, the sports score, even their relationship into the bedroom, it certainly makes sense that they will be less successful. My friend also asked me if it was embarrassing to talk about. As a yoga teacher and spiritual follower, I think no. If we can be as successful as any gold medal winner in all aspects of our life, and have the power to do so by keeping the mind clear, then I say, go for it, reflect on it, and also talk about it. Take the physical practice of yoga off the mat and use it to your advantage in any situation.
Posted by Ingrid on 10/14 at 05:48 AM
(2) Comments •
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