Stop the glorification of busy
by Nancy B. Loughlin
Published in News Press on September 1, 2015
Warriors I, II and III with the yogis of Yoga Bird, Fort Myers.
You say this: “I was going to return your call, but I was just too busy.”
This is what others hear: “I have many priorities, and you aren’t one of them.”
You’re not “just too busy” to return a phone call. Stop lying.
When your schedule makes you unavailable and removes you from relationships, spontaneity, new experiences, solitude and meditation time, you’re out of control.
“But I’m ‘just too busy’ for things like that.”
That’s the kind of busy no one needs. It’s the kind of busy that kills you – physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Guidelines for Busy
A life full of activity is not a life filled with purpose. Do your activities exhaust you, or do they energize you?
Remember that there is a difference between duty to do your obligations and choosing to do-do-do minutiae that have nothing to do with what you’re supposed to be doing.
Karma Yoga is the yoga of action. Your body and mind are the vehicles for fulfilling your purpose. Being connected to your authentic spiritual self is the heart of your happiness and vitality.
It’s not just your job that can divert you from your purpose, but the raging flood of pointless appointments and obligatory socializing and perfunctory recreation.
Everyone is an addict. You are not free if you are defined, ruled and exhausted by your external activities. Unfortunately, you can live in bondage to your children, cleaning, clubbing, cooking, couponing, dating, doctor appointments, exercise, manicures, massages, movies, Netflix, running, scrapbooking, therapy, “time with family,” travel and work.
This busyness never delivers. It’s time to stop chasing your tail.
Stand in Balance: The Warrior Flow Meditation
Practice holding your center, your purpose, despite swirling, disabling distractions and duties and doing.
- Begin in Warrior II. From the top of your mat, step your left foot far behind you. Allow your body to consume space.
Ground your feet by pushing them into the earth, down and away from each other as if you are trying to tear your mat. At the same time, pull your thighs inward.
Add your arms. From your midline and with intention, stretch your right arm to the front of your mat and the left to the rear.
Now flip your palms up so they face the ceiling. Feel your chest open. Imagine a ball of light in your heart that pushes your arms in opposite directions.
Working the legs, working the arms, keep your gaze locked in front of you. Know where you’re going.
- Transition to Warrior I. With care and quiet, pivot your back foot so your toes are facing the front of your mat.
Square your hips, and push your arms to the sky. Rotate your forearms inward so your pinkies are facing each other.
Now go to work. Push your feet into the mat and scissor your legs to the midline. As you reach to the sky, imagine the movement originating in the hips. Pull your torso out of your pelvis and reach high.
It’s the push and the pull of opposites: earth and sky, inner and outer, up-body and low.
- Lift into Warrior III. Push onto your back toe, and deepen the bend in your front leg.
Prepare to launch. As you begin to lift your back leg off the floor, pull your hands to prayer position in front of your heart. While you keep your torso and back leg on the same level, tip forward until you’re a giant capital T. The crown of your head stretches to the front of the room while your foot reaches to the back. Your up-body gets longer and fills space while balanced on a single, strong standing leg that extends to the earth.
Step back to Mountain Pose; center you in you and all that nourishes you.
Purpose is all a warrior needs.
Nancy B. Loughlin is a Fort Myers writer and yogi. Visit her website www.NamasteNancy.com or follow her on Twitter @NancyLoughlin. Her book, Running is Yoga, will be available later this year.
