January; new start, better habits, more of this less of that…. while all we really want to do is hibernating and waiting for brighter days (at least up here in the North). The gym is busy, the yoga studio sees new faces, people try not to drink alcohol and perhaps to ditch meat on a Monday, but how sustainable is it, really.

To change our habits, we must change the way we see things, think about things, we must change our awareness of what really matters and what matters less. When that shift in consciousness happens, change will no longer feel like hardship, or punishment, it will no longer feel like you are giving up something or receiving less.

In yoga we work with detachment, to not be ruled by our senses, our impulses, or wants and perceived needs, our minds. We become better at discerning what we really need and what we think we need. It does not mean that we cannot enjoy the same things as before (though we might realise we want less) but it means that we are equally happy without it, that we do not feel that we are lacking if we don’t have what we used to have. It is not indifference, it is contentment.  

So whilst we (at lest her in the North) are waiting for the rain and snow to stop and the Sun to become more generous with his presence (I say he, as the Sun energy is ruled by Pingala, who is you masculine energy, whilst the Moon is ruled by Ida, our feminine energy, we all have both) why not take this time to lean into stillness. Taking time to sit still and ponder over which changes you think would benefit you and the word you live in. To have those internal conversations with yourself, question your habits and what you think you need and who your think you are. What you think you represent and how this could be different. How you can be kinder to yourself and others, yet also how set better boundaries and stand up for those who needs an ally.  Then slowly and patiently let your pondering start to manifest in your consciousness.

When your consciousness starts to shift, change comes easily, doing right by yourself and others becomes your natural way of being. Patanjali’s Yamas and Niyamas becomes reminders rather than challenges and our lives move towards a Dharmic path and from there, the magic can begin.