When the clocks go back on Sunday at 2am it signifies the end of British Summer Time (BST) as we move into Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
I was interested to learn this week that the time changes we have are largely because a builder William Willet (Chris Martin/ Coldplays great great grandfather) produced a paper 'Waste of Daylight'. This was about the benefits of increasing the daylight hours in the summer and he could play more golf!
Others had pursued this idea before, but it was Willet's paper which was passed by the House of Commons in 1907 that led to the change. Unfortunately for him he wasn't around to benefit as he died of flu.
Here's a feature about this in more detail.
You might know that I'm co leading a Yoga/Gong Sound Bath on Sunday 29th to make positive use of this extra time as I know some people find the transition into the darker colder days difficult. Mark and I ran this at the same time last year too and it was really lovely to spend this extra time in a more meditative way.
It has made me think about the concept of 'Time' and how relevant it is to well being and ultimately is Yoga.
I feel giving someone your time (unconditionally) is probably one of the most precious things you can give.
My lovely friend Dalu, who is a retired Headteacher, told me recently that she used to talk about this in her Primary School Assemblies. She said she often quoted Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. 'There is a time for everything'. She was saying that most other 'faiths' have a version of this too. It's here if you want to read more.
For me, from the start of the summer I have given myself permission to 'make time' for myself. I joined a gym. I'm really enjoying lots of different exercise appreciating more than ever how important this is both for physical and mental wellbeing. It's my time for myself.
We are so pressured to fit so much into our lives, be busy, see and do as much as we possibly can. Pack in so many experiences. Yet sometimes I feel we can miss the most important stuff. The small everyday things, like enjoying Autumnal changes. It's 'Slow Living' again, which I've referred to here before. Here's a photo I took on my dog walk yesterday.
In yoga the Yamas and Niyamas which are ethical and personal guidelines and are intertwined with a lot of these thoughts. In an article in Yoga Journal, Hillari Dowdle & Kate Siber write of the purpose of the Yamas and Niyamas. "It’s about avoiding behaviors that produce suffering and difficulty, and embracing those that lead to states of happiness.”
The article is really great if you're interested to read more.
There's a lot to take in with the philosophy of the Yamas and Niyamas. But for me a lot of the understanding comes with time and how you view and respond in different situations. The ability to zoom out. As I've quoted before from the Bhagavad Gita. 'Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self'.
Over 'time' these observances can get better. I hope you can give yourself some more time too and enjoy the extra hour this weekend.
Namaste.
Comments