I read somewhere – ‘Slow is Yoga’ as an essence of Yoga. This was a couple of years back and till date, I am slowly internalizing the true meaning of it.
It makes me aware the fast-paced nature of our lives. Why are we always running? Why do we need to overtake the next car ahead always, why can’t we sit idle for sometime, why do we need to do something and solve ten things in a day, why do I need to attend to all my Whatsapp and social media messages everyday religiously, why am I not able to find time to take a pause and reflect, why my mind always seems fast running and chaotic in its thoughts? All these are some of the questions most of us would be struggling with, for the right answers.
Then, being slow is about just being ‘in the moment’ – being aware and observing our own breaths (do we ever do that consciously), observing the things around and emotions inside at that very moment and just being there. It is about not grieving or feeling proud about the past or planning / worrying about the future. All of that gets dissolved with the centeredness in the present. Observing our emotions and breath is both – the way to do and the thing to do for being ‘in the moment’.
I am still learning but the journey is fascinating.