Keep

As you grow more experienced in life, you come to recognize that you, and only you, are responsible for your life. Your goals. Your priorities. Your failures and your achievements. Factors around you may influence you, but you are in charge of you, including how you act and react. Take a look at your every day routine. Is it designed to help you reach your goals? Or do you just roll along day after day without setting a definite course? Let's say your goal is to improve your strength or stamina. Have you done something today to do just that? Perhaps your goal is to get organized. Have you taken just one step today to make that happen? Want to be more creative? Spend some time every day pursuing your passion. As you take charge of your life, keep what works, what ignites your creative fires, what upholds your moral standards. Keep what is precious to you. And in a world going crazy, keep your sanity. Then let go of the rest. Celebrate the internal spiritual fireworks that ensue when you liberate yourself from the confines of what does not brighten your life to keep what is best for you.

Ocean Shores, Washington

"I keep what works for me now."

Yoga Pose: Warrior II Virabhadrasana II

Keep practicing the basics. You might have done this pose hundreds of times and maybe take it for granted. Return to it with new awareness. Focus on your legs or your torso or practice it on uneven ground. Our yoga practices take on new challenges - mental, physical or spiritual - every time.

Foundation. Start in Tadasana - Mountain Pose. Set your intention.

Stance. Take a giant step forward with your right leg. Turn your left foot out to a 45 degree angle. Exhale and bend your right knee towards 90 degrees. Press your outer left heel firmly to the ground.

Torso. Keep your torso and upper body upright in the center with your chest and shoulders facing to the center line. Your shoulders align above the pelvis. Stay upright without leaning forward.

Arms. Lift and expand your arms out to the sides with your arms at about shoulder height. Make sure to relax your shoulders away from your ears.

Gaze. Soften your jaw and eyes. Gaze over the magnificent view before you.Stay in the pose for as long as it feels comfortable, then challenge yourself to take one or two more breaths. Return to Tadasana.

B R E A T H E

[Repeat on the other side]

Horseshoe Bend, Page, Arizona