Exploring Deep Space
I'm fascinated by all the talk this week about Thursday's rocket launch of the New Horizons spacecraft. It's the fastest ever built. But it won't arrive at its destination, the planet Pluto, until 9 1/2 years go by. A 3 billion-mile journey takes time.
When it gets there, the spacecraft, loaded with 7 instruments, will photograph the surface of Pluto and its moon, Charon.
It's powered by a nuclear reaction of some sort. Well, not just any nuclear reaction. The electricity on board New Horizons is generated by the natural decay of plutonium, of all things.
Consider this. The scientists directing the exploration don't know what they'll find when the space ship arrives and sends back its valuable information.
But they know where they intend to go.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't have any plans for what my life will be like in 9 1/2 years. In 2015 my daughter will turn 21. I suppose her college days might be over then. I'll be 55.
Frankly, I'm not ready right now for either of those numbers to roll up on the odometer of life. I've got some work to do.
Of course, I think this whole thing is a lot like yoga.
You can blast off today. I hope you will. It will be an auspicious start. You can begin practicing yoga today.
The blessings of a regular yoga practice are many. [I taught an Experience Neti Flow workshop today at which a woman who had diminished hearing in one ear was able to hear clearly when she left! Wow! Can you imagine how thrilled she was?]
The journey of yoga, much like the journey to Pluto, is one of exploration. You don't know what you'll discover along the way.
The ancients promised if you practice, you could attain the state of yoga. In that state, you can directly experience your true nature.
This journey may take a long time. But for some, it is short.
Patanjali declares that "the goal is near for those who are supremely vigorous and intense in practice."
The word saccidananda comes to mind. Although the exact details of what you'll discover on your yoga path aren't known, the sages found, and remind us, that our true nature is saccidananda. It's a word comprised of three roots: sat, chitta, and ananda.
These three words sum up who you really are, the you you should expect to find as you go about your yoga way.
Sat means being. It means you exist. You are. Profound, eh?
Chitta means mind. It means you are conscious. You are aware.
Ananda means bliss. It means you are joyful. You were designed for happiness.
I invite you to begin your yoga practice today. But like the scientists who set out to explore Pluto, I recommend you begin with an intention.
You may intend to have thinner thighs. You may intend to improve your posture. You may intend to quit smoking. You may intend to eliminate low back pain. You may intend to slow down. You may even intend to directly experience your true nature.
But please set an intention. Every time you practice, set an intention. It will give your efforts meaning and motivation. When you can't remember why you're bending forward or twisting into a pose, focus on your intention!
That rocket never would have lifted off Thursday had a lot of people not intended for it to reach Pluto.
Don't just read about it. Get up. Experience it. Experience yoga!
Kevin Perry
www.ExperienceYoga.org
p.s., If that report about the woman who's hearing improved got your attention and you'd like to read more about the yogic art of jala neti, click here to read one of my earlier Daily Yoga Tips.
p.p.s., Have you seen our new women's pink cap sleeve t-shirt that says "chitta happens" on it? It's got Patanjali's second sutra in English and Devangari script in the design, "yoga is the stilling of the movement of the mind." You can see it and order yours here.
p.p.p.s., Here's what Jennifer B. said about the Experience Sanskrit workshop last Saturday in Kansas City, "I just wanted to tell you and Sallie how much I truly enjoyed the Sanskrit class! I had so much fun, and the chanting was such a soul lifting experience.
Copyright 2006. All rights reserved, Mo Yoga LLC.
Kevin Perry
Mo Yoga LLC
905 Eastland Plaza Suite B, #106
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 680-6737
When it gets there, the spacecraft, loaded with 7 instruments, will photograph the surface of Pluto and its moon, Charon.It's powered by a nuclear reaction of some sort. Well, not just any nuclear reaction. The electricity on board New Horizons is generated by the natural decay of plutonium, of all things.
Consider this. The scientists directing the exploration don't know what they'll find when the space ship arrives and sends back its valuable information.
But they know where they intend to go.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't have any plans for what my life will be like in 9 1/2 years. In 2015 my daughter will turn 21. I suppose her college days might be over then. I'll be 55.
Frankly, I'm not ready right now for either of those numbers to roll up on the odometer of life. I've got some work to do.
Of course, I think this whole thing is a lot like yoga.
You can blast off today. I hope you will. It will be an auspicious start. You can begin practicing yoga today.
The blessings of a regular yoga practice are many. [I taught an Experience Neti Flow workshop today at which a woman who had diminished hearing in one ear was able to hear clearly when she left! Wow! Can you imagine how thrilled she was?]
The journey of yoga, much like the journey to Pluto, is one of exploration. You don't know what you'll discover along the way.
The ancients promised if you practice, you could attain the state of yoga. In that state, you can directly experience your true nature.
This journey may take a long time. But for some, it is short.
Patanjali declares that "the goal is near for those who are supremely vigorous and intense in practice."
The word saccidananda comes to mind. Although the exact details of what you'll discover on your yoga path aren't known, the sages found, and remind us, that our true nature is saccidananda. It's a word comprised of three roots: sat, chitta, and ananda.
These three words sum up who you really are, the you you should expect to find as you go about your yoga way.
Sat means being. It means you exist. You are. Profound, eh?
Chitta means mind. It means you are conscious. You are aware.
Ananda means bliss. It means you are joyful. You were designed for happiness.
I invite you to begin your yoga practice today. But like the scientists who set out to explore Pluto, I recommend you begin with an intention.You may intend to have thinner thighs. You may intend to improve your posture. You may intend to quit smoking. You may intend to eliminate low back pain. You may intend to slow down. You may even intend to directly experience your true nature.
But please set an intention. Every time you practice, set an intention. It will give your efforts meaning and motivation. When you can't remember why you're bending forward or twisting into a pose, focus on your intention!
That rocket never would have lifted off Thursday had a lot of people not intended for it to reach Pluto.
Don't just read about it. Get up. Experience it. Experience yoga!
Kevin Perry
www.ExperienceYoga.org
p.s., If that report about the woman who's hearing improved got your attention and you'd like to read more about the yogic art of jala neti, click here to read one of my earlier Daily Yoga Tips.
p.p.s., Have you seen our new women's pink cap sleeve t-shirt that says "chitta happens" on it? It's got Patanjali's second sutra in English and Devangari script in the design, "yoga is the stilling of the movement of the mind." You can see it and order yours here.
p.p.p.s., Here's what Jennifer B. said about the Experience Sanskrit workshop last Saturday in Kansas City, "I just wanted to tell you and Sallie how much I truly enjoyed the Sanskrit class! I had so much fun, and the chanting was such a soul lifting experience.
My only suggestion for the class would be if you could somehow do a two part series, there is just so much to learn - I feel like I'm ready for more!"
Every time we conclude an Experience Sanskrit workshop students ask for more! It's a fun and unforgettable way to master the Sanskrit names of the yoga poses you practice every day.
Our next Experience Sanskrit workshop is coming up next Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. You can find out about it and other workshop dates at www.ExperienceYoga.org. Register here.
We'll bring Experience Sanskrit to Downingtown, PA on February 4. Register here.p.p.p.p.s., Would you like to bring the Experience Sanskrit workshop to your yoga studio? Send me an email and we'll start working on a date. It's easy. Send it to info@experienceyoga.org.
Copyright 2006. All rights reserved, Mo Yoga LLC.
Kevin Perry
Mo Yoga LLC
905 Eastland Plaza Suite B, #106
Jefferson City, MO 65101
(573) 680-6737
posted by Kevin at 1:06 PM
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