Chapter 1: Morning Meditation

This morning, my meditation felt somewhat “cloudy” yet more profound. I focused on connecting my three centers, sensing various lights or feelings within my body while checking in with my inner child. “Everything okay in there, Stevie? Anything I should know?” “Nope, Dad. Just keep cleaning up.” With that, I extended a line of light deep into the Earth, feeling grounded.

Then, I visualized a connection from the top of my head reaching towards the sun. Though the imagery wasn’t perfectly clear, it was sufficient for my needs.

As I rolled out of bed and felt my feet touch the ground, I performed a self-check. There was minimal supination, and when I tilted my pelvis, I noticed a slight tightness in my back. However, I felt balanced, as if my head were suspended by a string from above.

After taking care of my morning routine, I prepared for the Sun Salutation. To me, my body is a metaphor; it represents my will and heart, shaped by countless small choices, disciplines, and indulgences. It is the vessel through which I navigate life. I nurture it for my own joy and as a gift to my loved ones, and as a model for my son.

The way I treat my body—what I feed it and how I help it rest—reflects my overall well-being. If I acted solely on primal instincts, I would eat just for sustenance and seek emotional satisfaction elsewhere. However, I sometimes indulge in eating for enjoyment, neglecting what my body truly needs versus what it craves. I recognize this isn’t always the best partnership with my own physical form.

Yet here in the morning, I can release anxieties about my imperfections and make a new commitment:

• Today, I will follow the Three Gates.
• Today, I will embrace the M.A.G.I.C. formula.
• Today, I will walk the path laid out by my mentors.
• Today, I will walk with pride alongside my peers.
• Today, I will set a positive example for my students.

By focusing on one perfect day at a time, I can create a sequence of perfect days, culminating in a perfect year and ultimately a perfect life. The term “perfect” here should be understood as a pursuit, an ongoing effort to enhance ourselves, to grow stronger, purer, and more connected to our essence.

Many individuals concentrate on their minds, hearts, and spirits but often overlook their bodies. They claim indifference, yet they subsequently complain about discomfort, financial struggles, or a lack of intimacy and affection.

They deceive themselves, only to seek sympathy when their self-deceptions return to haunt them.

Do not become one of these individuals. Acknowledge your desire for a healthy body, fulfilling relationships, and a vibrant career, all while engaging with joy, passion, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Strive to give more than is expected.

One breath at a time. Inhale deeply. Feel your spine elongate as you extend upward, performing a standing back-bend while synchronizing your movement with your breath. When intention aligns with motion, you touch mastery.

Exhale. Bend forward, placing your palms flat on the ground. Recognize that this is not a common occurrence. Being able to lay your palms flat first thing in the morning indicates that your back is relaxed. Yes, there may be stiffness, but remember, Steve—you would miss this ability if it were gone.

Inhale. Look up and straighten your back. Step back one foot at a time. If your body were warmed up, you might be able to jump back, but such explosive movement isn’t accessible first thing in the morning. Maybe in a month, though; you can feel it on the horizon.

Exhale and lower yourself into plank pose, preparing for Cobra. Adjust your toes and heels. Consider the optimal position for your fingers. Engage your core and back muscles.

Inhale, arching your spine into Cobra. Ah! Today, there’s more flexibility in my spine. I can sense the “string of pearls” feeling returning. To feel this at all, rather than a solid mass of tension in my back, is a blessing.

Exhale, coordinating your breath with the movement as you transition into Downward Dog. Elevate your hips and align them. Press your heels toward the ground. I find it difficult to breathe through my nose in this pose this early, so I resort to mouth breathing. Observe your hands: palms firmly planted, shoulders rotated to widen the lats, neck relaxed.

Breathe five times here, focusing on each exhalation, allowing for a gentle inhalation in return.

Now—jump forward. Remember without guilt or shame that you once could leap your feet all the way between your palms, Ashtanga-style. Now, six inches is the best you can manage due to tension in your back. But that’s still commendable for the morning. Acknowledge this as a diagnostic. Forgive yourself and express gratitude for what you can achieve. Recognize the courage it takes to confront the reality that the natural gifts of youth are no longer easily accessible. Instead, they require daily dedication and the resolve to face the relentless passage of time and say: “I will not fade quietly into the night!”

Walk your feet forward between your hands, maintaining your exhalation. This is much of the practice: aligning breath with movement. Bring your breath, mind, and actions together seamlessly.

You are a human laser, focusing your energy.

Inhale and rise, stretching high, feeling the expansion in your spine. Standing is a powerful action at the hip joints; you can feel it in your lower back, and today it feels fantastic. The past ten days have been transformative.

Return to your starting position. Express gratitude for your strong, healthy body. Commit to “clearing out” daily, preventing unprocessed emotions from accumulating. This body is my companion, my machine, my playground. It embodies thousands of small decisions and actions over time, reflecting my values, emotions, and intellect.

It is not the wind, but the grass. My will is the wind. My heart, the sun.

Take a moment to observe the grass bending, warm, healthy, and free.

Just for sixty seconds. Then, I’m done, and the day begins.

Namaste,

Steve

www.lifewritingpodcast.com

Chapter 2: The Power of Breath

In this chapter, we explore the significance of breath in yoga practice and personal growth.

The first video, titled "Let The Sun Shine In Your Heart - Wind," beautifully encapsulates the essence of nurturing one's inner light through breath and movement.

Chapter 3: Movement and Mastery

Movement is essential in yoga, serving as a bridge between the mind and body.

The second video, "The Wind," further illustrates the importance of flow and grace in yoga practice, emphasizing the connection between breath and movement.