Give Yourself Permission To Be

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habit change, happy yoga, inspiration, mindfulness, positive yoga, self-awareness, yoga goals, Yoga With Paul

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how our minds guide us, and the ways they can open new vistas, or get us stuck in a rut.

We are, after all, creatures of habit — both physical and mental. We are brought up with certain values and beliefs and, unless we are conscious of them, we can go through our whole life without ever checking whether they are helpful or harmful.

Photo by Alex Block on Unsplash

The path to true happiness?

One incredibly common belief is that we have to earn the right To Be… to be happy, to be loved, to be successful, to be content, to be satisfied with our lives.

Our culture is predicated on always needing more. This can be material, but it can also be mental and spiritual. We fall into the rut of thinking, “once I have the perfect relationship, I can be happy,” or “once I get this promotion, I will have achieved something,” or “once I really learn to meditate, I’ll be at peace.”

Unfortunately, there is always another there to reach. We can spend our whole life setting up goals then discovering, when we reach them, that there is still one more thing… and trust me, there is ALWAYS one more thing.

It’s not a destination

So we can spend our whole life, running along this road, not feeling prepared or confident or at peace. Or, we can slow down and reconsider our relationship to this never-ending journey.

Sure, there are always going to be goals, but should we allow them to dictate our state of well-being and personal satisfaction? No.

Life is short. We will never achieve it all. What we can do, is learn to appreciate the things we have right now. In the moment.

Take stock, then… relax

Next time you catch yourself getting into this hurry-ahead mindset, pause and take stock. Your goal is important, sure. But so is right now.

• You are already a valuable human being.
• You already deserve mental, physical and spiritual wellness.
• You already have the tools you need to achieve your objectives.
• You already have the capacity to learn and grow. 

Give yourself permission to be yourself, here and now, and pursue your dreams with joy, instead of self-judgment.

Read more: A Short Guide to Mindfulness, Mental and Emotional Harmony

Make This Your Lucky Day

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be lucky, Friday 13th, inspiration, Karma, luck, mindfulness, philosophy of yoga, yoga karma, yoga philosophy, Yoga With Paul

Friday the 13th is traditionally bad luck, which makes today the perfect time to reflect on what “luck” means — and how we can make today (and every day) our “lucky day”.

Be lucky

Luck implies that life is something that happens to us. Depending on the era and culture, people have believed that God, the Gods, fate, or some other force is responsible for handing out good and bad events.

Yoga teaches us about karma — that what we experience is a response to what do. Our actions are the root from which karma grows. They determine our “luck”.

Here are five ways to make today your lucky day.

Express love

Take the time today to tell your loved ones that you love them. Sure, they know you love them, but actually saying the words, expressing them out loud, will is an affirmation that will lift them up — and you.

Let one thing go

We all have little things that drive us crazy — the weather, a co-worker, our commute. Today, think of one of these things and make a conscious decision to let it go. Just brush it off, ignore it, don’t give it your mental energy. You’ll be surprised how free you feel.

Do a headstand

Inversions literally let us look at the world from a new angle. Headstands refresh and revitalise our mind and body and they’re just plain fun.

Give

We are exceptionally blessed in our material circumstances, which makes us an exception in the world. Take an opportunity today to share your abundance. This might mean a financial donation, but it could equally be a gift of time, attention, or expertise.

Set your intention

Our attitudes and actions are guided by our intentions. If we want to move through life in health, peace, and happiness, we need to make a conscious decision to value those things (and the actions that bring us closer to them). Today, take some time to think about what matters to you — then set your intention to guide you.

How do you bring luck into your life? Share your thoughts in the comments!

 

Baldwin & Buddhism – Summer Reading

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beach reads, Buddhism, Gyalwa Dokhampa, inspiration, James Baldwin, meditation, mindfulness training, Sharon Guskin, summer reading, Thich Nhat Hanh, yoga, yoga books, Yoga With Paul

There is still plenty of time to fatten your holiday reading list, or pick up a brilliant book to whisk you away from your busy city routine. Here are a few wonderful volumes I’ve read recently and would recommend to anyone.

Another Country by James Baldwin

When Another Country appeared in 1962, it caused a literary sensation. James Baldwin’s masterly story of desire, hatred and violence opens with the unforgettable character of Rufus Scott, a scavenging Harlem jazz musician adrift in New York. Self-destructive, bad and brilliant, he draws us into a Bohemian underworld pulsing with heat, music and sex, where desperate and dangerous characters betray, love and test each other to the limit.

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin

Noah is a little boy who knows things he shouldn’t and remembers things he should have forgotten. Because as well as being a four-year-old called Noah, he remembers being a nine-year-old called Tommy.

He remembers his house.
His family.
His mother.

And now he wants to go home.

The Heart of Understanding by Thich Nhat Hanh

The heart of the Prajñaparamita Sutra is regarded as the essence of Buddhist teaching, offering subtle and profound teachings on non-duality and the letting go of all preconceived notions, opinions, and attachments, and so becoming open to all the wonders of our life.

The Heart Sutra is recited daily in Mahayana temples and practice centers throughout the world. Thich Nhat Hanh’s translation and commentary are the fruit of the author’s more than sixty years of monastic study and practice. He describes the sutra as “a precious gift to us, the gift of fearlessness.”

The Restful Mind by Gyalwa Dokhampa

I was fortunate to meet His Emenence Gyalwa Dokhampa and be in his presence when he gave a talk to the group who went on the Bhutan retreat.

The restless mind is frightened of silence,

easily bored, and busy, busy, busy.

The restful mind is creative and alert, relaxed and confident.

The step from one to the other is all in the way we think.

His Eminence Gyalwa Dokhampa has a real understanding of the pressures of modern life and how our crowded minds have left us too little space to stretch and grow.

He shows us new ways to calm body and mind, become more aware, better able to deal with problems and appreciate the moment.

It is with our mind that we create our world. Here’s how to open it up and let the world in.

What are you reading this summer? Share in the comments!

You Have the Power

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daily yoga, inspiration, mindfulness, positive change, positive yoga, positivity, unity, volunteering, yoga, Yoga With Paul

Yoga With Paul blog is a yoga blog so I’m not going to say anything about today’s big political event. What I am going to say is that today is as good a day as any to think about how our actions and attitudes affect the lives of people around us.

I often remind students that their energy influences those around them. Positive effort is infectious; smiles are infectious; willingness to stumble and try again is infectious.

The opposite is true too. Frowns are contagious; negativity is contagious; getting discouraged is contagious.

This applies in yoga, and in daily life. Whatever we give out is what comes back. If we’re irritable or in a funk, folks catch our mood. If we shrug off a setback and say, “it’s okay, things will be better next time” that catches on too.

Instead of feeling helpless or hopeless about things we can’t control like wars, or suffering, or general elections, let’s focus on the things we can do. You have the power to change the world, one day, one person, one action at a time.

You can do something as simple as smile and hold a door for a stranger, or as challenging as volunteering for a cause that matters to you. Whatever you choose to do, practice it like yoga. Daily, or almost-daily. Small actions add up, kind words make a difference. Keep up the practice and you’ll be amazed how far the positivity flows.

Share your ideas for making positive change in the comments.

 

YWP December Newsletter

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clean eating, holidays, inspiration, mindfulness, New Year 2017, vegan recipes, yoga, yoga daily, yoga news, yoga postures, yoga retreat, Yoga With Paul

Happy New Year all! Enjoy the final Yoga With Paul newsletter of 2016.

ywp-newsletter-dec-2016

Peace & love to you all.

Radical Eye Photo Exhibit

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creativity, Elton John, inspiration, London exhibitions, London museums, modernist photography, photography, Tate, The Radical Eye, Yoga With Paul

I mentioned it on Twitter last week but in case you missed the Tweet, I highly recommend seeing The Radical Eye. This is a fantastic private collection of modernist photography from Sir Elton John’s personal collection and is currently on display at the Tate Modern.

Photo: via Tate Modern

The Radical Eye is a collection of about 150 vintage photos by over 70 great artists. Visually, it ranges from evocative to surreal. Dorthea Lange’s famous photos of Dustbowl families sit alongside art photography from the likes of Herbert Bayer and Alexander Rodchenko.

There is an incredible group of Man Ray photographs, which Sir Elton collected over the past twenty-five years, that includes his portraits of other seminal artists including Matisse, Picasso, and Breton.

The exhibition supports my theory that people who are incredibly creative in one art form are generally creative in many ways. From his 70s fashion statements to this photography collection, Sir Elton shows that a true artist is always creating something beautiful and memorable. Inspiring and highly recommended!

Seen the show? Share your thoughts in the comments!

 

 

Yoga – Good Even When It’s Bad

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inspiration, Vinyasa, vinyasa flow yoga, why do yoga, yoga, yoga inspiration, yoga practice, Yoga With Paul

Came across a lovely piece by Vinyasa practitioner Lisa Renee. It’s called Yoga Sucks but don’t let the title fool you. It is really a wry love letter to yoga that tells the (funny) truth about how some days you just don’t feel like it — but it’s always worth it.

I’m sharing a couple of my favourite paragraphs – please click to read the full piece.

First, I have to get myself out the door. Take stock of all my aches and pains, fears and misgivings and decide if today is a good day for yoga. A good day for 90 minutes of minor pains and difficult contortions, cramping and effort.

It isn’t, but I go anyway.

…

Sometimes it all kind of sucks, from start to finish. The knee hurts, there’s no balance, the mind chatters manically, I forget to breathe. Some days, I drag myself across the finish line dizzy and sore and wonder who exactly I think I am, at this advanced age, doing these odd strenuous things.

But some days — most days, actually, or I probably wouldn’t go back — there’s a moment. Some days it is just a moment — one precious moment. But some days it lasts, sometimes throughout the entire class (which is glorious and not to be forgotten). It is a moment when things click. The breath, the body, the mind, the music, the group — it clicks and soars. It’s an odd divine synergy of the body and mind that makes me feel strong and flexible, clear and grounded.

Okay, I know that sounds like yoga teacher bullshit and it kind of is. But it really happens. Like I said, sometimes fleeting, sometimes a 90-minute glow that I carry home with me. It’s like a thread of light and strength running from my feet to the crown of my head and I feel like everything will be okay.

Share your thoughts in the comments!

#YWP August Newsletter

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breathing techniques, healthy eating, hot yoga, inspiration, meditation, mindfulness, nutrition, yoga, yoga newsletter, yoga tips, Yoga With Paul

Extra! Extra! It’s the August Yoga With Paul newsletter, with a round-up of inspiration, ideas, and insights from my blog and around the web.

Yoga With Paul newsletter AUG 2016

Read. Share. Repost. Leave your feedback in the comments!

3 #YogaGoals to grow your practice

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#yogagoals, inspiration, mindfulness, yoga, yoga challenge, yoga motivation, yoga postures, yoga tips, Yoga With Paul

Summer is a time to chill, be with friends, enjoy holidays… but it can also be a time to revitalise our yoga practice. In fact, it’s the perfect time to set some #yogagoals.

When your class schedule or home practice get routine and comfortable, it is time to challenge yourself. Here are three #yogagoals to bring new vitality to your yoga.

1. Add a class, or try a new style: Swap Bikram for Vinyasa for example, or experiment with Ashtanga, Jivamukti or Iyengar
2. Master a new pose: Maybe you’ve always wanted to do a handstand; or learn crane pose. Or take the time to get really good at standing bow, or savasana, or camel
3. Yogify your mind: Focus on your spiritual and mental development by meditating, practicing mindfulness, volunteering, or simply making a conscious effort to take the calm of the studio out into your daily life.

Share your #YogaGoals with @YogaWithPaul on Twitter or post in the comments!

Vogue Style in London

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British design, British fashion, British Vogue, creativity, fashion, inspiration, London, London exhibitions, National Portrait Gallery, Yoga With Paul, YWP

If you’re looking for a visually stunning afternoon out you should check out Vogue 100: A Century of Style at the National Portrait Gallery.

David Hockney, Peter Schlesinger and Maudie James by Cecil Beaton, 1968. Photo: The Condé Nast Publications Ltd.

It is a can’t-miss exhibit for fashion fans, and even if you’re not a fashionista it is a fascinating look at 100 years of lifestyle, celebrity and history. The show features almost 300 prints from the British Vogue collection with images from some of the world’s most famous photographers including Lee Miller, Cecil Beaton, Snowdon, Irving Penn, David Bailey, Mario Testino and Herb Ritts.

Among the shots are portraits of Henri Matisse, Lucian Freud, Damien Hirst, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lady Diana Spencer; and designs from the likes of Dior, Alexander McQueen and Saint Laurent immortalised in photography.

 

 

Click here to buy tickets