I may have mentioned that we're doing dog training. Mr. Brown, (who nearly died) was the runt and I vowed to keep him if he survived. He was 2 a few weeks ago and having been a 'model puppy', as a young adult dog a few things changed. In some situations there was a new found urge to protect his bitches. (His mum and me).
It's been, and continues to be, a fascinating learning experience of canine behaviour. Dogs are dogs and their behaviour is instinctive. What I've learned is it's how we and others respond to dogs behaviour which is important.
The key word in training is consistency. This is hard work.
It's made me think this is so true of so much in life isn't it? Correct repetition was something ingrained into my daughter when she started playing Suzuki violin at age 4. It's encouraged all the time in sport, dance, languages, physiotherapy and in 'general learning'. Practice, practice, practice.
This is especially so in yoga too. This why doing yoga is known as a 'Yoga Practice'. Consistency is as important here as well. As I've been filing my online classes, today we've reached Day 101 for the 3rd year of 'Yogaeverydamnday'. I still love it and I realise that most of those who join me can't do 'Everydamnday', but, their practice is still consistent.
This is why I love Astanga Yoga too, because it's method is to learn through a sequence, all the foundational poses and then add on. Even if you 'practice' the same routine it feels different, the body opens, the breath feels more comfortable. I feel strongly (even 20 years in), that there is always something to learn.
For me this is Tapas (discipline or effort) as in the Niyamas. Here's a bit more on this if you're interested
And 'your duty to do the work' as in the Bhagavad Gita. 2.47. Being present to the effort and not the end result.
This means it's not important that we achieve the perfect headstand, the best vibrato on the highest note of the violin, or be the fastest runner (mmmm, maybe if you're an athlete it is!!).
So what stops us from being consistent, or commit to something when there's so much reward?
When you think about it - most of the time it's ego. Maybe a lack of humility? Because we move away from things which we find hard, or take us out of our comfort zone. Expose our weaknesses.
I remember one of my teachers Denise Christian (Astanga Yoga Cornwall) saying, "You need to learn to love the poses you hate".
At the end of the day we are all human, impulsive, joy seeking beings and there's nothing wrong with this either. It's what makes the world go round. But I feel putting in the effort and being consistent with certain things, like not having badly behaved dogs and practicing yoga for physical and mental health are important.
Sometimes we have to zoom out as I mentioned in previous blog, https://www.vikkiyoga.com/post/minimising-regret to work out what the important things are. But I feel 'Consistency & Commitment' to these things are key.
Have a lovely weekend.
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