The real thing

"The real yoga starts when you get off the yoga mat"

A sentence used by Johan Noorloos, a famous Dutch Yoga teacher. 
Currently my teacher.....

And it is true.......

On the mat you practice every aspect and every part out of the 'real life'

Sometimes you really feel like practicing, other days you don't.....
The trick is to learn how to motivate yourself, dedication. 
This is called Bhakti in Sanskrit. 
Dedication to your practice, dedication to yourself, dedication to your goals.
Just like the real life.

Sometimes you feel energetic and daring. Daring to try new things and to challenge yourself. 
Sometimes you feel tired and exhausted. Wanting to lie down. Surrendering all the weight of your body into mother earth.
Sometimes you want to shrink yourself. Rolling yourself up like a child safe and protected. 
Sometimes you want to expand yourself. Taking in the space, feeling powerful.

Sometimes you look too much to others. Comparing yourself to others and as a result losing yourself. 
Sometimes you forget to breathe..... when you challenged yourself too much....
Just like the real life.

Sometimes you feel like a loser, the feeling of failure. 
Sometimes you feel proud, proud of what you achieved.
Just like the real life. 

Sometimes you feel stabile, steady, grounded..... easily balancing on 1 leg
Other days thoughts take over control and you lose the balance, lose the focus....
Just like the real life. 

...Yoga is like an anchor, everytime you find yourself drifting away, it pulls you back, back to yourself. Back to the true you........ 
Because that is what's real.....
Just like the real life. 

Namaste.