Being on the yoga mat all day

In our yoga practice we begin by bringing our presence to the mat. We do this through sitting and closing our eyes and watching our breath breathe us. This simple practice allows me to feel very present and says here I am mind and body and no where else. I find that being on the mat is a place of great peace of mind and even through the rigor of the vinyasa yoga practice, my body while working is deeply rested. I even have a friend, when he sees me outside of yoga with any agitation or frustration, reminds me to get on the mat. As Judith Hanson Lasater, PhD and a founder of Yoga Journal magazine stated, "Practice and life are not that different. That's a fundamental understanding. I don't do my life any differently from what I do on the mat." This in itself is my practice to bring the peaceful presence and nowness found on the mat to the other activities my daily life.

"I will spend my heaven doing good on earth." St Therese of Lisieux

As I ponder my new year's resolutions and goals, I came upon this quotation from St. Therese, "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth." I want it to be my inspiration for this year and hopefully for life. Of course, I will continue with my goals for fitness, financial planning, household projects and spiritual development; however St. Theresa's way shall guide me this year. My father has frequently said that he has experienced heaven on earth from the love of his wife (my mother) and the joy of his children and grandchildren. No doubt, our family has been deeply blessed. This blessed way comes not only from our faith, it also is reflected through my father and mother's service and "doing good" for each other, their children, their community and even at ages 81 and 85 they continue to do good. My mother volunteers for hospice and both my parents are volunteers at church working the gift store, bringing food for receptions following the funeral of a fellow parishioner, even for those they do not know. We just shared 12 days together for the Christmas celebration and each day mom and dad would cook, bake, do our laundry, take us places, and create a most beautiful Christmas break. This has been our life, our parents doing good. I would say that St. Theresa is onto something, the more good we do, the more heaven becomes part of this life.