Happy New Year

Category : Asanas (Postures), General advice, Philosophy 2nd January 2018


Inside Yoga 221 (2/1/2018)

We are back to the beginning again. The start of another year is usually filled with resolutions to “start as we mean to go on”, to make changes, and to improve XYZ; or, in other words we use the New Year as a chance to improve our quality of life.

But is the start of the year any different from other times of the year? Why do we place such importance on the New Year as an opportunity to make changes? Surely we can do this any other time of the year? But instead we place a lot of importance and pressure on ourselves to use January 1 as a launching pad towards something better in our life.
There is, however, a lot of truth in the power of collective activity and thought, because we are not the only one making New Year’s resolutions and this collective energy to make change can help lift us and carry us forward towards our goal more than other times of the year. You could say that it’s in the air, that there’s a buzz in the air, saying now is your time to make changes, step up to the mark, move forward and so forth.
So, on this basis it is certainly a good time of the year to make resolutions and see them work. January is one of the busiest times of the year for me as many people start yoga or return to yoga – there is a hint there too to come to class this week, next week, as soon as possible!
The New Year is clearly a powerful time of the year for feeling fresh and ready for change, with so many round us who are equally motivated to make changes or try harder, it is a supportive environment. So why not take advantage of the collective mood to start 2018 with good intentions.
There is however a very good reason to keep it up, all year, every day, as if every day is New Year’s Day.
Philosophically speaking in terms of both Yoga and Buddhist thought every new day is an opportunity to start afresh as if reborn, because simply put, every new day has never happened before, making it fresh like a new birth. We might think we have done it all before, which means we might be “going through the motions” on autopilot, but each new day has never happened before. We have a memory of previous days and experiences which lead us to believe we are repeating our actions and days, but in reality each moment is new. We simply bring into each new moment, each new day, each New Year memories and plans, which makes us believe we are entering a repeat episode. Change this view by realising that although we might have experience and memories, as we move forward we are entering new territory each and every moment.
If we look at every day as opportunity to start again, to be born again, even if we feel we know what is going to happen because we have a routine and did the same last week or yesterday, we can embrace the feeling of New Year’s Day resolutions every day of the year!
Start each and every day as you mean to go on… not just New Year’s Day.
Any questions or comments contact me via the blog reply panel below or email gary@yogabristol.co.uk
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