be present

I have heard instructors say before class that we should leave our life outside the yoga room at the beginning of class. In other words, STAY PRESENT!  They might as well be speaking Russian or Greek because it is a concept that I completely can not wrap my head around but I do try!  Stretching my limbs from NYC to LA in the intense heat acts like a glue that keeps my mind connected to my body more. But I inevitably  catch myself constantly distracted by negative thoughts.  Inspired by the challenge, I have made a commitment to be more present and more positive. So whenever I catch myself worrying or feeling bitter, I tell myself the same thing that an instructor says when he or she when the pose is over: change. Change is such a simple but loaded word. Instead of move by body into the next posture, in this change, I am going to direct my mind to focus on my new mantra:

 y