Inside Yoga 214 (30/10/17)

Sometimes we forget how precious time is: we have become creatures of habit, who would rather be somewhere else rather than where we happen to be, even if that place is a really enjoyable experience and location. Why do we keep leaving when we don’t need to?

This morning I was starting a walk in the country hills with my young daughter and our dog, and I was checking my phone to see my work emails. She told me rather strongly that no phones were allowed on the walk – put it away now! I explained that it was work and because even though it was her half term I still had to work, juggling with both I said. She said that I can check the time but nothing else.
As I put my phone away, I realised that she was correct, that I must not be distracted by my phone and that I should concentrate on our walk.
The wisdom of a young child is sometimes our wake up call.
As we walked, we proceeded to talk about how our mobile technology dominates our lives. I told her that when I was young we had no mobiles, no social media, no tech, and all we had was a phone at home (we still have one but it has been relegated to an under used and forgotten item in the house). I told her that this meant when we went out, we couldn’t do anything about incoming calls and messages, we just did our walk and would not be distracted by looking at our phones checking “just in case” someone had sent a message.
In the old days we might have been worried while walking, about an expected call, but what could we do while walking? But most of the time when we went for a walk, we went for a walk – just that. We might be distracted by our thoughts while out walking, but we did understand that while out we could do nothing about XYZ, so why worry?
Do we realise how we reducing our own quality time by this addiction to messages and mobile tech, always “on call” so to speak. Our mobile technology has made us slaves to our own distraction. We cannot stop ourselves. We feel it’s so important we must keep checking our messages – why not have some quality time?
We can apply this to our yoga practice. And it often starts before we actually start. Sometimes, when I ask the class to turn phones off or put on flight mode, there are some who don’t realise I mean everyone! We are so used to having phones on we don’t realise they are still on! (Incidentally I don’t understand why people leave their phones on at night? Except those who have to for their work).
Once phones are off we still have our minds to contend with. This is where the message “quality time” also applies, because yoga asks us to focus on our body and breathe so that we deepen our connection with ourselves, without distractions, thereby establishing quality time with ourselves. And this way we improve our practice too, by paying attention to what we are doing.
This is a simple message to make every moment count – quality time. For example, when walking we walk, when practising yoga we practice, when doing the dishes we do the dishes, when working we work. It’s all about application and attention.
And I am pleased to report that I spent the whole walk with my daughter – totally with her – and I didn’t check my phone (except to check the time).
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