PRACTICING BEING PRESENT

How many times in a day are we actually fully present in a moment without letting our mind race from thought to thought, from past to future, from memories to desires. How many times a day do we actually practice being fully present, fully aware of every single element in a present moment, starting from our physical surroundings, to our physical body to our thoughts or simply to our breath ?

The answer is probably : very few times, or none at all.

Being fully present from moment to moment synchronizes us with the higher intelligence that exists inside each of us, and all of us collectively, and guides our lives in the best direction.

Being present is one of the essential habits to cultivate during the practice of yoga. But it also works the other way around. Regular practice of yoga cultivates a greater sense of awareness of the present moment. Yoga can be a tool to cultivate awareness and this spills into our daily lives.

It seems really hard with the millions of distractions we allow into our lives at every moment. This goes to such an extent that sometimes we barely remember to breathe.

Here is a simple routine to practice being present :

Just before you sleep at night, as you're drifting away with your eyes closed, start to visualise the space around you. Listen to all the sounds around you and move your awareness from sound to sound, focusing on each sound for a few seconds and then moving your attention to the next sound you can hear. This itself will relax your mind, and enhance your sense of 'being present'.

Then. Slowly move your awareness to your breath and just feel our body rise and fall with every breath you inhale and exhale.If you feel your mind drifting off, bring it back to the breath.Do this for about 10-15 minute before you sleep. 

The changes will be remarkable. Only with daily practice can you get the proof of the magical transformations in your life that will follow.