It's Tiki here, and if I seem a little older and more mature the next time you see me, it's because this coming Tuesday, I'm celebrating my 8th birthday! Marking the passage of another year got me thinking about how much I've learned in my eight years.

You see, when I was but a young pup, I used to push and push myself until I almost collapsed. Whether I was taking a walk, guarding the studio, or just playing with my doggie friends, I approached everything with the attitude of wanting to dominate it. Over the years, as I gained a little wisdom, I began to realize that this approach was stressful and was wearing me out. Little by little, I started approaching life from a new perspective, the perspective of listening to my body and not pushing too hard when my body told me to back off.

Now sometimes it's hard for me to hear these messages from my body because I'm always on the run and my mind seems to always be racing. That's when it's important to take a minute to relax and breathe deeply so that my mind can quiet down and I can listen to what my body is telling me. I realize that even though I ran a certain distance or jumped a certain height last week or last year doesn't necessarily mean that distance or that height is right for my body today. And you know what, with each passing year, I realize more and more that I'm completely happy and grateful to be exactly where I am.

This is how we want to approach our yoga practice, as well. Sometimes maybe we feel the need to muscle our way through poses or fight to dominate the pose, but the more we practice, the more we increase awareness and wisdom about our bodies. Through the yoga practice, we gain a wisdom and sensitivity that makes us realize that sometimes the most benefit can be obtained just by relaxing and breathing, instead of pushing. Just as I learned that I may jump different heights on different days, we learn that our yoga practice will vary from day to day, or year to year. And we realize that wherever we are in our practice is right where we need to be. This awareness gives us a peace that truly allows us to let go and be happy in our own skin, both in our yoga practice and in our lives.

So this week take a little time to breathe, quiet your mind, and listen to your body. Take a little time to appreciate every experience in your life because those experiences have helped you gain the wisdom you have today. And take a little time to celebrate life's wonderful journey, with its birthdays, its yoga poses, and its surprising new experiences around every corner!

Namaste,
Tiki