Self-discipline....

Self discipline can show up in so many ways in the yoga room!  It is one of the qualities of the mind that gets strengthened just by having a regular yoga practice.  You don't have to force yourself to be self disciplined, it just gets cultivated by your continuous, conscious action and devotion.  

Just showing up is the first major step.  From there, you build on the fact that you show up each day.   It might be that you decide to practice less fidgeting, or more one point focus, or just breathing in by the nose-mouth closed!!!  Each goal you set for yourself and you accomplish, strengthens your self discipline!!!  No matter how small the goal.

You will see how you begin to discipline yourself in the ways you respond to the external stimulation as well as the internal stimulation.  

It is not just about following or not following rules, it is so much deeper than that.  It is about pursuing an ancient sacred practice, that allows you to study yourself and know yourself. Through the practice, we begin to abandon our temptations and/or our weaknesses when it gets uncomfortable.  To keep going when our minds are telling us to leave because we don't like the teacher or the heat is not right, or the person next to us is doing something we don't like, or we want the class to go a different way.  Having the willpower to overcome the desire to give up when it gets hard.  To stay and continue even when we feel negatively towards it.  And show up the same no matter what!

Over time, the more and more we practice.  The better we get at mind over the matter, we start to see that we become detached from all the things around us.  That nothing steals our peace.  That hot or cold, loud or soft, fast or slow, no matter what YOU are the same!  Focused, still, content, present.  

Our yoga teaches us this.....next time you take class, notice where you can cultivate more self discipline in your practice and watch how it will show up in all the spaces outside the yoga room too!!!