Taksim calling

I am in Istanbul. I could only imagine before yesterday that I could be here.

 You know, I was thinking, how yoga has changed my life. I hardly ever do this reflection, but I catch myself thinking about the changes in and out, mostly when I'm faced with a situation that years ago I knew I would have freaked.

I am more calmer. Yes this is obvious. I don't know when, but I do know it's both yoga and my religion. Like I said before, yoga strengthened my religious beliefs because it really brings my attention to what I already have instead of what I could have or wanted. It's that simple. Life is here. It might be hard, or bad, or unfair, or totally awesome. Ride on it, like a wave. If it's bad right now, hang in there - someone has it worse. If it's good right now, alhamdulillah, remember that someone does not have what you have.

I eat better. You know again, I do not know how yoga influence this, but I do know that I made a lot of changes after seriously practicing yoga (and by serious I try to keep a 6x a week practice, home or classes). I worked hard to keep my body healthy that eating all the junk just counters whatever good I have done. And I don't really think twice about not having it. I tell myself that some people just dont have the luxury of eating it. But when I do get to eat food that I love, I am appreciative. Subhanallah.

 There are actually more that I could see but they all stemmed from being calm. My attitude's adjusting so well that I am so grateful to find ashtanga when I did. And also how it deepened my faith.

 Anyway, today I did the primary series. It was... weird. My concentration was so haphazard, off the rack. If I had videotaped myself I would have looked like an ADD doing yoga. I stopped mid asana to adjust the mat, I stopped and for no reason just stared into space mulling and thinking before continuing. I did not even sweat that much. Nevertheless, my garbha flowed beautifully. Alhamdulillah.