The Significance of the Moon to Yoga  Close
If you are familiar with ashtanga yoga, you've probably been cautioned against practicing yoga at the time of a full or new moon.

This has little to do with the popular notion of higher incidences of accidents and birthings during full moons, but more to do with our internal energies at these times.

A full moon is the product of the sun and moon at opposite ends of each other, and the earth fixed between. This positioning causes both the sun and moon to gravitate to the earth, resulting in the pulling of tides in bodies of water. Alternately, a new moon occurs when both the sun and moon are in conjunction.

More about the significance of the Moon to Yoga
 

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Compassion
Elisa Williams on 08 February, 2010 |

"When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another - Helen Keller." Over recent weeks, everywhere we turn, there is news of aid relief efforts going on for the devastation faced in Haiti. Whether those efforts include celebrity concerts, international armed forces, fire and medical services sending personnel to help with emergency efforts or religious organizations sending clerics. Prayers are being said in mosques and churches synagogues and temples all over the world. Even in yoga classes teachers are encouraging their students to hold the people at the centre of this human tragedy in their hearts. The eyes of the whole world are currently on Haiti. Graphic news images of men, women and children being pulled from debris, both dead and alive, has really made us look at our own loved ones and be thankful that they are safe and well.

Time and time again after these horrific events we see the world coming togther like it does at no other time. Even after nine years we continue to hear how 9-11 changed the lives of people forever; how people otherwise caught up in their own lives suddenly dropped everything to turn their eyes outside of themselves, with hearts of compassion. Last night I watched a television programme about the Tsunami and its effects five years on. It is hard to believe that this dreadful event was already five years ago and while the rest of us in the world have moved on and the buildings and towns have been rebuilt, many communities and families were shattered forever in the worst hit places.

But why is it that we humans all too often have to wait until something catastrophic happens before we allow our hearts to express compassion? Why can‘t we live compassionately every day? We don‘t have to look to far to find people who need out help. People who may have just lost a loved one, been diagnosed with cancer, or lost their source of income. when we look outside of ourselves compassionately, we open ourselves up to a different world. What if we allowed our emotions to connect with other people everyday and made a conscious decision to more compassionate without the trigger of an international tragedy?

Since I became a yoga teacher, I have met many people who are trying to change their lives for the better, sometimes after traumatic events or illness. They might have decided to start by trying to become physically healthier but in reality this first step towards helping themselves though yoga works hand in hand to help them to become healthier emotionally and spiritually as well. There is a reason why we are made of these three entities and we need to experience that sense of well being in all areas of ourselves before we can become completely healthy. When we step outside ourselves and plant seeds of hope and encouragement and even relief in the lives of others, even if it is only in some small way we also find that we also help ourselves.

We all need to be there more for each other in good times and in bad. We all need to take responsibility. "I always thought that someone should do something about that. And then I realized I was somebody" To quote Lily Tomlin but I think it applies to us all.

I think it‘s fantastic that the world has rallied together once again when confronted by such devastation. But why don‘t we all challenge ourselves to live our lives more compassionately on a daily basis. To make a conscious effort to notice the people around us and open ourselves up to caring more even if it‘s just with an encouraging squeeze on the arm, a genuine smile, delivering a bit of shopping or dropping round with a cooked meal which is a really appreciated scheme run by the church I attend. Even just a saying a simple, kind word and sparing a few moments just to listen. People need to love and be loves. If we make it our purpose to live our lives more compassionately, I think we might all be surprised at how often we all find ourselves in the path of someone who may have gone into tomorrow without hope and for whom we were able in some small way to make a difference.

If you haven‘t already you can donate now to Haiti by copy and pasting the following links:

www.unicef.org.uk/Donate_Haiti Support UNICEF‘s relief work in Haiti.

www.redcross.org.uk/haitiearthquake Donate to help the people of Haiti Red Cross: DEC member
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