Lesson Three: Learning to Be Present

     At the beginning of yoga class our teachers encourage us to let go of anything we were doing, thinking about, or  that happened before getting to class or is going to happen after class. they ask us to sit and bring our attention to our breath, to center, to become grounded, and to become present.

     It is so rare in our culture to truly be present. We are constantly on the go, thinking about the next thing we need to do. Coming to yoga class gives us a much needed escape from the constant go, go, go of our everyday lives. 

     Being present is often difficult when first starting we first start our practice of yoga.  Often we don't even know what it means to be present. Over time it gets easier and we notice how being present on our mat helps us to be present in our lives. 

     I challenge you to become aware of you thoughts while having a conversation with someone.  Are you thinking about the next thing you are going to say? Or are you being present and listening to what the person is saying? Try this and see how it feels to really be present in your conversations, how it feels to really listen. 

     This practice has helped my relationships on many levels. Don't we all want to be heard? I believe it starts with being truly listening and being present. In what ways has being present helped your relationships? 

Lesson Two From The Mat to Our Lives: Letting Go

   

       Aparigraha or non-grasping is one of the five Yamas, which are part of the eight limb path of yoga.  Aparigraha teaches us not to take more than what we need and not to hold onto things.  It teaches us our attachments and grasping on to things in our lives is a great generator of our own suffering.
     We become so attached to sensations, to people, to objects, and to outcomes when we lose or don't attain these things we react negatively.  These negative reactions we have then cause us to suffer.  In yoga we learn and practice how to let go, how to not grasp, and how to not take more than we need.
      Letting go our of desire for control, our desire for material possessions we don't need, and letting go of relationships that don't serve us.  Letting go our our judgements, fears, anger, blame, expectations and so much more.  It is truly amazing what happens when bring the practice of Aparigraha into our lives and let go.
     One of the things I have been working on letting go of is my need to feel in control and plan my future.  I am practicing living in the present moment and trying to do my best right now.  I don't have to worry about the future because what I am doing now will lead me down the right path to where I am suppose to be.
     What have you let go of and how has it made a difference in your life?

How I Got Here

Hi!
     My name is Ali Snapp and I grew up in Los Osos, Ca. A small beach town on the central coast.  I grew up playing sports and being very active.  I played soccer quite competitively for four year and ran track in high school.  Two broken feet, ruptured calf muscle, severe spinal lordosis, patella-femoral syndrom and three broken fingers later I got to the point where I could no longer do the things I was use to doing.  This was devastating. I didn't know how I could be active while dealing with these injuries and the healing of theses injuries. At one point it was difficult to walk very far and stand for extended periods of time.  So I did my best with the injuries I was dealing with.
     I found yoga in an odd way, through my job.  I was hired to work at a yoga studio and sell yoga memberships and help students find the right classes and guide them along in their yoga journey.  I had heard about yoga but had never tried it.  I was under the impression I needed to be flexible inorder to do yoga.  Therefore, I was very nervous about starting a practice.  I was blessed to have kind and understanding teachers from the beginning.   They put me at ease and taught me to accept where I am.  They told me yoga is a practice and every day will be different.
     This was a big shift for me as a former athlete.  I had to shift from the mentality of I want to win to a mentality of I am here.  I could not look at a pose like a soccer game or a race I wanted to win.  Yes a pose has a point of full extension but it can't be viewed the same as winning a race or a game.  I had to come to terms with the idea it may take me years to fully extend through a pose and I may never get there but that is not what it is about.  Furthermore, once I have attained full extension within a pose there is still more I can work in while I am holding the pose.  I had to come to realize yoga is about being present in the moment and accepting where you are and being ok with that.  Knowing that we are ok just the way we are.  Yoga is a journey not a destination.
     I am honored to share this journey with you and would enjoy and appreciate any comments or personal stories you would like to share.

Namaste