Yoga In My Backyard

Ever since I was a high school student, I have used acronyms as a mnemonic tool to help me study. I memorized all sorts of things from cell division to capital cities to math formulas using first letters. When it came time for exams, I just needed to remember the acronym. Most of the time it worked, but not always. Sometimes I forgot the acronym! To this day, I continue to use these tools to help me remember things, even when it comes to yoga (and remembering what to get at the grocery store). My favourites are:

BRFWA – breathe, relax, feel, watch, allow

STOP – slow down, tune in, observe, proceed

AAABS – the “yamas” (the don’ts of yoga ethics): Ahimsa (don’t harm), Asteya (don’t steal), Aparigraha (don’t be greedy), Brahmacharya (self-restraint), Satya (don’t lie)

SSSTI – the “niyamas” (the do’s of yoga ethics): Saucha (purity), Santosha (contentment), Svadhyaha (self-study), Tapas (self-discipline), Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender to God)

BKBK – broccoli, kale, bread, kleenex

And now I came across a new one to remind me of my Sankalpa (resolve or solemn vow; or as I like to refer to it, my “prime directive”):

LCKPC – love, care, kindness, patience, compassion

This comes from a full-moon online group meditation I recently participated in with the Global Care Room. We tapped in to the energy of our heart space then sent out good vibrations of love, care, kindness, patience and compassion to the planet (see https://www.heartmath.org/gci/introductory-heart-coherence-technique/ for technique). What I discovered was that this practice aligns well with all those things that I endeavor to model. And when I forget, and I react negatively or judge or withdraw, this acronym pops into my head to remind me to re-direct, re-balance, and re-align. It’s not always easy in the moment to switch from anger to love, or from impatience to patience. But part of the practice is simply RECOGNIZING when we are out of sync and then taking the steps to come back into alignment.

To be honest, all I really need to do is remember my name: DAYA ANANDI. My teacher, Yogrishi Vishvketu, gave me this spiritual name as a reminder – of who I am, what I can share, and what I sometimes need to work on. Kindness and bliss, kindness and bliss, kindness and bliss…my true nature. Perhaps that is the best and simplest mnemonic of all.

As I depart for my India trip today, I will be putting all these tools to good use, especially when facing the unfamiliar, the unknown, and the unexpected. Whether across the ocean or in your own backyard, from the simple to the extraordinary, may we all take the time to STOP and BRFWA!

Just a reminder that my classes are on hold until the end of February. First class back is Yin Yoga at DSDS on Thu. Feb. 28, 2019.

TTFN and CUL8R!