Out of the many metaphors for life that we can draw from yoga, I’d like to share with you this one.

Today as I was cueing Mountain Pose in my lunchtime yoga class:

“Lift and root the toes.

Lift and root your heals.

Tuck the pelvis and draw in your core.

Take the shoulder blades up, back and down.

Lift the chest.

And add a little pressure into the hands and heart center.

Now take a deep breath so you can remember how to come back to this.”

I was struck by the importance of inviting everyone to do so.

I’ll admit, that’s a lot to say for a pose that looks like a whole lot of nothing (mountain pose looks as simple as standing)! But I say this upon standing up because the place from which we begin to move is so important.

Without a focus on being grounded, starting from a place of strength, and maintaining a strong breath – we wobble, our minds wander aimlessly, our form slacks. These actions snowball into wrecking our yoga practice.

Yet, if we choose to begin with deep breath, feeling the strength in each muscle, consious awareness of how our body feels, and its place in space, we can carry these essentials throughout the workout.

Understanding the impact of the place from which we begin, we can improve our intention in life as well. Think about this in your own life – each day, at home, at work – does the way you begin your day impact the way you enter and move throughout the rest of it?

Each morning I wake up at 6:30am.  To be at work at 7:30?  Nope, work begins at 9am. Then why?

Because my alone time each morning is precious. I awake to desire prayer in my head and in my heart. I move at ease, not letting anxiety or rush attack. I take time to prepare a meal that I know will satisfy and fuel my day of healthy eating, and then I sit quietly and I read. I don’t check e-mail, I don’t check things off my to-do lists. I just sit. And I be. I let the words I read fill me.  I let the calm and the quiet sink into my soul.

And from this strong place, I begin.