Practice is over

If you have the opportunity to be kind or right choose kind.

Learn, love, help, and cause no harm.

I’m thinking about nothing (mostly) – I’m just repeating those two mantras in my head. I’ve been saying them for years at the end of every practice. I figure if I say them enough times maybe it’ll sink in – ha.

The photo above is how I finish my practice (no savasana). I’ve just completed about an hour of standing asanas (postures), sitting asanas, and pranayama (breath work). My practice is not as rigorous as it used to be but it still does the job.

There’s a quiet calm or stillness I feel in these final moments. It may not look like it but I’m very comfortable in this position. Sitting on a zabuton (Japanese sitting cushion), folded over; arms, hands, and head on my mat. There’s also a feeling of accomplishment – I’ve completed another practice. And that’s not a small feat.

I recognize that

as I consciously breathe.

I sit on my cushion folded over and I stay for a while. Even after I’ve finished repeating my mantras. It’s a good place to be and it represents the observance of a continued practice. I would not feel comfortable in this position if I practiced only occasionally. The repetition keeps my body flexible and strong (relatively speaking).

Multiple Sclerosis constantly reminds me what it’s doing to my body. It consistently tries to convince me that it’s better to stay off the mat. To not exercise at all. My mind however does its best to convince me otherwise. Three, four, sometimes five times a week to get on my mat. It is very important to maintain.

Living with an incurable progressive disease means I have to do all I can to slow that progression down. I still take medication, maintain my practice, and believe in the possibilities. I manifest a positive outcome. At night when I go to bed I manifest healing breath. I breathe into the back of of my throat. That just happens to be the location of my biggest MS damage – my cervical spine. I think / manifest that my breath can heal it. I manifest my breath to rebuild the myelin in that area. That’s where my healing thoughts and breath go as I fall asleep.

My brain and immune system unconsciously fixes whatever issues it can. Why can’t I tell it (manifest) what to fix. That’s what I do as I fall asleep and that’s what I do in that photo above. I am self medicating – ha. Even though I’m making a joke here; it is something I firmly believe in.

Positive optimistic thoughts manifest desired outcomes.

I’ve always believed in manifesting desired results. One of the best things I can do for myself is to believe that it will happen. Ya gotta work at it and believe. It’s worked for me in the past and I believe it will work for me in the present and future.

I find myself where I am
I am where I find myself

Ahimsa