Before I consistently practiced Yoga and it became my lifestyle practice, I had an active, distracted, and dysregulated mind. It would take me on a rollercoaster ride many days a week. I tried to cling to the ups and escape the downs. Most people would not have guessed this was going on inside of me because I was a master of disguise. But behind the scenes of the image I presented, I was a mess at times…like most people and their minds are. Traditional Yoga has been my guide to regulate the mind and find more calm and contentment than I ever thought was possible.

MY PERSONAL DYSREGULATION

I distinctly remember in my late 20s having a conversation with my dad, who was concerned about my future – settling down, buying a house. He was having this conversation from a place of wisdom and love. But my young adult mind was interpreting it like it was a foreign language.  I had not lived in one place for more than six months to a year. Buying a house was a terrifying thought. I was busy experiencing and living life!

Yes, it was fun and exciting to live in different places and experience new things. I regret nothing. It was all part of my journey. In hindsight though, all that constant movement was me (subconsciously) avoiding myself and all the difficult emotions that had built up. I had mastered the ‘fun-adventurous’ image and liked that part of myself. I received a lot of attention for it. That image was my ‘drug-of-choice,’ so to speak. 

LIFE GIVES US WHAT WE NEED

A decade later, when I found my teacher, Prasad Rangnekar, I was ready for change. The reality of my patterns and behaviors became more clear to me than ever. I had never planned on becoming a Yoga teacher, yet when the opportunity presented itself, ‘Yes!’ was the answer of my entire being. I thought I was going to learn how to teach Yoga Asana (poses) but I discovered Yoga is profoundly much more than a pose.

It’s funny where life leads us, giving us what we need. We just have to be present and aware enough to take the opportunities to learn and grow.

MODERATION

One key lesson Yoga has given me is to practice moderation.

I see moderation as a process, a continuum. On one end is excess in everything, indulging in life to the point of self-destruction. The other end is being desireless or fully content. 

There are different layers of moderation – physical, mental, energetic. Kind of like editing a digital photograph, my practice has changed these different layers. Even though life remains the same, how I see it has completely changed. 

I would have never guessed that practicing moderation would ripple out, leaving its mark on every part of my life. This practical practice has cleaned away the ‘muck’ of excess and indulgence to connect to what has always been there, just out of reach. 

Trust me, it’s not easy. It’s not like one day I woke up and said, “Alright, I’m going to wait 48 hours before I buy anything online,” and that was it. Done. Never mindlessly shopping again. Like I said, moderation is a process. AND you have to take action and work the process.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF MODERATION

Here are some practical starting points for each of the three layers I mentioned above. Choose one from each category that is causing suffering in your life and commit to taking action towards moderation over the next year. (And trust me, a year is nothing).

1. Physical: Think of this as how you take care of your body. What you eat and drink. Sleep routine and patterns. Hygiene. Exercise versus rest…let’s just say movement versus rest. Screen time. Social time. Downtime. Doing things for others. Doing things for yourself.
2. Mental: Think of this as mind management. How do you self-regulate with both positive and negative emotions? What do you do when you are hungry, tired, angry, lonely? When your mood goes up, what do you do? When the mood goes down, what do you do? What are some of your beliefs about yourself? Notice what triggers a change in your mood. Negative thought patterns.
3. Energetic: Think of this as the energy level in your body and mind. I’ll make this one simple – breath. Become aware of your breath as much as possible.

MODERATION IS A PROCESS

The important part of moderation is not just gathering data and information, but then taking action to moderate. It’s easy to have the idea, “Oh, I’m going to stop eating sugar.” And then two days later, after eating no sugar for a day, the cravings take over and there’s no more action.

One step at a time and keep it simple. Instead of ‘no sugar’, maybe think about increasing another action like eating healthy snacks when hungry (or sad, angry, lonely…).

Finally, be kind to yourself in the process. Behavioral relapse is just information, not a reflection of who you are. Learn from it, adjust, and recommit. It took me EIGHT YEARS to be consistent in a daily meditation practice. And everything I learned in the process has helped me understand myself so much more.

YOGA PRESCRIBES MODERATION

“But, O Arjuna, Yoga is not for those who eat too much or who do not eat at all, nor for those who sleep too much or keep awake (in excess). Those who are moderate in eating and recreation, moderate in her efforts in work, moderate in sleep and wakefulness, (the practice of) Yoga becomes the destroyer of all misery.” – Krishna, Bhagavad Gita (6.16-17), Swami Paramananda translation with pronoun change by author.

What does this mean to you?

Namaste.

PS. I specifically work with women lost in emotional reaction and negative thoughts to find balance and connection again – inner and outer. Interested in learning more? Email me at tlgingrich@samyayogahealing.com.