Each morning, I read one entry of Rolf Gates’s book Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga before I even leave my bedroom.

I must confess, I have started this book a couple of times. Daily rituals always sound good on January 1, right? But I have never made it past February. Until now.

As I read the book this time, there is a lot of highlighting, underlining, and corner-of-the-page folding going on. It’s like the author is observing my life, then telling me each day what I need to do to make it through.

Bitchy self-talk? Work on ahimsa (non-harming). Feeling sluggish and lazy? Keep practicing yoga. Lying to myself about changes that need to be made in my life? Embody satya (truthfulness).

Instead of looking at each day’s entry as something on my To Do list, I look forward to learning how to apply yoga philosophy to the ups and downs of my daily existence.

Meditations from the Mat is teaching me how to use my yoga practice to become stronger and more whole off the mat. Not too bad for just a few minutes a day.

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Author: Kathy Baum

Image: Rolf Gates