After a couple of months of restoring and purifying, we begin afresh as we enter the month of March and the start of spring. It is a clean slate for building our strength, our sturdiness.

The month of March was named after the Roman god Mars who was known for his strong, warrior like quality. Although warrior honors were bestowed on many ancient figures, Mars was known for achieving his strength through  levelheadedness and discipline.

Acquiring strength in yoga is founded on discipline as well. In Sanskrit, we use the word “tapas” to define discipline but not in a severe or stern manner.  For myself, yogic discipline or tapas can be explained by one word, passion – the heat within our hearts formed from exuberance. Good, disciplined action should lead to a sense of purpose or empowerment; it’s what we encounter in a really great yoga class – a feeling of soaring above all else.
So, our challenge for the week is to try and generate more tapas (heat) in our lives – on and off the mat.

Select a pose that you are avoiding or may find difficult, then practice it.  Apply compassion, however, and don’t go beyond your comfort zone. Begin slowly or practice a variation of the pose first.

Strive for consistency. This can be in any area of your life that you feel is lacking.  Maybe it is your regular yoga practice or even the time you lay down to sleep each night.  Pick one thing that you feel is erratic and get it on a steady track.

What are you afraid of?  Do the single thing that you most dread or feel that you just aren’t trusting yourself to achieve.  Choosing this more challenging path is definitely fuel for the fire. Maybe it starts with a telephone call or visit that you have been putting off.

“As the trials increase, the errors become less. Then doubts become less, and when the doubts lessen, the effort also becomes less… direction will come, and when you go in the right direction, wisdom begins. When wise action comes, you no longer feel the effort as effort- you feel the effort as joy.”  -B.K.S. Iyengar (The Tree of Yoga)

Click here if you’d like to start a Year of Living Yogically!

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