How would you feel knowing that what happened in the past, caused what’s happening now and that has an effect on what happening next?

If you aren’t familiar with Karma (cause and effect) then you might not have even considered this question in the past.

Yet, on May 24th, 2012 I found myself thinking about this very question, in Caroline C’s All Level yoga class at Yoga Pura.

What’s more, Caroline suggested that there is so much happening in each moment. That what you choose to bring into your awareness has an effect on your experience of this moment and the next.

And as your subconscious mind continues to process this information you’ve just received. You might begin to recognize that intellectually thinking about Karma can be a pretty challenging thing to do.

However, one of the neat things about karma is that you can begin to process and understand it much more easily. All you have to do is take the information you have received and experience it for yourself on the yoga mat.

For instance, in this particular class, Caroline invited us to bring our awareness into the body and listen.

When it came time for us to do a more challenging pose like “Twisted Chair”. Rather than going past my edge by struggling to get deeper into the posture. I listened to my body and followed its lead.

In this case it meant I wasn’t bending into my knees as much and one hand was on my back with the other at my knee.(Instead of what I normally do, which is bring my palms together at prayer position while twisting to the side.)

Interestingly enough, I normally don’t feel a “burn” in the pose only struggle.

However, when I listen to my body I’m able to feel more and receive more, even though I’m doing less.

Now you might be wondering...

What does this have to do with Karma?

So let me tell you...

The second to last posture we did before moving into Shavasana was Mountain Pose while lying down.

Because of my recent karma of listening to my body while in the postures. I was able to feel the energetics of “Mountain Pose” while lying down.

What’s more, I was able to fully engage my feet and legs as if they were supporting my entire body. And I was able to experience this because I was listening to what my body was telling me.

Is this an oversimplification of Karma?

You bet it is.

That’s why I practice yoga, because it makes philosophical concepts like karma much more accessible . The way it does this is by giving you the experience of Karma on the yoga mat and in your life rather than staying stuck in your mind as a philosophical concept.

And when that begins to happen, the more empowered you become to create and shape your own life.

Big Love Always,

Thaddeus