Thursday, April 24: day one of three, Brahmacharya

Yoga: Repeat of Tuesday, meaning no yoga practice. Although I taught my own classes for two and a half hours and between warm-up and cool downs twice, I feel like I get enough of a short personal practice on these days.

Pranayama: Too busy to make time to add something new. Did I mention our big dance recital is one week from this Saturday?

Brahmacharya: Teaching days are such a blur for me. I’m not going to force myself to do anything other than what is absolutely necessary and that includes neglecting most of the things I’m supposed to do for my LYS for today and most likely until the recital is over. Lifestyle changes take time and like a strict diet, forcing them is a good way to end up being very, very angry and failing at the goal.

Brahmacharya.
Often translated as celibacy, a better working definition for the householder is that it’s the maintenance of your vital essences. Ojas and Tejas and Prana are three ayurvedic principles that translate as potential, radiance, and vitality.

Exercising self-restraint, and leaving excess behind supports a feeling state (bhavana) of contentment (santosha). This practice also keeps the reservoir of energy (Shakti) full and ready to realize the potency of consciousness (Shiva).

Over the course of the next three days we will Observe ways in which we ‘leak’ or give away our energy. Notice when you feel depleted and observe the circumstances that are causing this depletion. Honor the underlying samskara that supports and possibly perpetuates these circumstances. Activate your consciousness to initiate the practice of brahmacharya!

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