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If you were in my yoga class this morning, you know that I promised you a post on a home yoga practice.  Click the ”Pages and Links” at the top of this site to find “Homemade Yoga”.  I encourage you to begin your own practice now.  Order a dvd or follow my flow series and get started!  There really is NO TIME but the PRESENT.  Make it part of your regular daily routines such as brushing your teeth and bathing your body.  Cleaning your spiritual home is just as important.  I’ve also posted a “Recommended Reading” page and “Recommended DVD’s” page today.  

Now, to the task at hand….Being Present.  I was in a deep forward bend a few nights ago when the meaning of “being present” actually hit me.  I was thinking of my kids.  I was thinking of tomorrow.  I was thinking of the past.  It was amazing how my mind darted from one thing to another, always on “search mode” to find something to distract me from the moment I was actually in.  I had a bit of an “ah-hah” moment when a voice inside my head asked, “are you present, Donna?”.  My answer was, ”Wow, no.  I’m somewhere else.”  It finally hit me that I wasn’t in the moment.  I was wandering around in the mental maze of my thoughts and definately not “present”. 

I invite you to become the silent observer of your thoughts.  Watch how they try to entertain or distract you from what you’re doing at any given moment.  Realize that your life is happening right now in this moment.  The past is gone and the future has yet to come.  What you have right now, at this very moment is a gift.  That’s why it’s called the Present. 

How do you become present?  By stopping the mind’s constant stream of thoughts for a moment and  intensely observing your movement through an activity.  Are you doing dishes?  Driving to work? Exercising?  Listening to music?  Bring your focus to your body for a moment and observe it.  Be in the body.  Watch your hands as they clean a dish or hold the steering wheel.  You’ll notice a shift in your attention.  Focus on your muscles moving and your heart pounding as you breathe precious life into your lungs while performing your workout.  Sing out loud with your favorite song on the radio.  Be in-joy.  Laughter-real laughter-the kind that makes your ribs ache, is presence.  Your mind is empty and you are present in your bliss at that moment.  The act of hugging a close friend or your child, partner or whoever, and really experiencing the feeling of their physical being  is another way to achieve pressence.  Take a deep breath and really take in the essence of that person for a second or two and let the emotions roll through your body as you hold them close. 

Feel more, think less.  That’s how you become more present.  Feel your body, feel your emotions and bless each and every second of your existence. 

May light guide your path…