| Congratulations! You have made the decision to start | | | | mat, maybe when you feel like this, you just lie down |
| yoga. You have brought your first yoga mat, a pair of | | | | and relax for 5 minutes. That's fine. It is the thought that |
| pants, read a few books and seen Madonna perform | | | | counts. |
| some amazing moves in her latest videos. | | | | 5. Take Time To Tune In During your day, take time to |
| After the exhilaration of attending your first class and | | | | regularly stop what you are doing and consciously |
| chatting with the other students, you begin to realise | | | | reconnect with your breath. Be aware of how you are |
| there is a lot more to yoga, than meets the eye. In the | | | | breathing and what thoughts come to the surface as |
| changing room, you overhear snippets of conversation | | | | you finish your internal check. Taking time to stop, |
| - "yeah, she is a good yogi" or "I know, that wasn't a | | | | breathe and be present often gives you the breathing |
| very yogic thing to do..." | | | | space you need to make correct choices, or say the |
| You leave, full and wonder, what is a "Good Yogi?" | | | | right thing. |
| We live in a fast-age. Results are wanted straight | | | | 6. Be Open, Honest And Compassionate When asked |
| away. You want to be a "Good Yogi", yet heard, it | | | | to give your opinion about something, maybe a friend |
| takes lifetimes to be one. This may be so. However | | | | has a new hair cut or your partner has written a book |
| there are several things you can do, in this lifetime, to | | | | and asked you to review it. Give your honest opinion |
| get your foot on the ladder and be a "Good Yogi. | | | | but do it in a way which considers the other person's |
| Eight Easy Ways To Be A Good Yogi | | | | feelings. Be compassionate with your reply |
| 1. Release All Judgement This is the golden rule for | | | | 7. Give Thanks And Show Gratitude This is probably |
| anybody who is serious about becoming a Good Yogi. | | | | the most important quality required to be a "Good |
| You have to release all preconceived ideas and | | | | Yogi". Showing gratitude, saying thank you, doing some |
| stereotypes about others and you're self. | | | | thing for nothing, are all positive yogic attributes. When |
| 2. Accept Yourself and Where You Are In Your | | | | you show appreciation, you share a part of yourself, |
| Journey This relates closely to point #1. You have to | | | | you are saying thank you to the universe for enabling |
| be able to accept yourself, as you are, warts and all. | | | | you to say thank you and to ask for more |
| The more you accept yourself, the easier it becomes | | | | 8. Adopt A Yogic Lifestyle Being a Good Yogi isn't just |
| for you to accept others as they are. | | | | about being physically flexible and supple by practicing |
| 3. Respect Yourself When you practice "respect", you | | | | asanas (yoga postures) and eating healthier. It is a |
| give your best to every situation. You have clear | | | | conscious choice you make to live your life in a |
| boundaries on what you are able to do, and willingly do | | | | particular way - one that embraces all of the above |
| what you say you are going o do. People can trust | | | | attributes. |
| you to follow through. | | | | As you can see, being a Good Yogi is a way of being, |
| 4. You Show Up Even on days when you don't feel | | | | of living in the world. |
| like practicing yoga or meditation, you show up on your | | | | |