Methods and Attitudes for 2006

In January, the onslaught of advice on how to quit smoking, quit eating, quit this that or the other can be overwhelming.

So I have a few items to bring to your attention.

Phillip Moffitt highlights the distinction between goals and intentions in The Heart's Intention, a thought provoking and helpful essay. The subtitle is - Setting objectives is not the same as making goals. Confusing the two can lead to unnecessary suffering. And Moffitt offers practical wisdom.

At this time of the year, I look again at the yamas and niyamas - the first two limbs of yoga. These are guidelines of conduct that are as important to yoga as the poses (asanas). For specifics about the yamas and niyamas, click here.

The yamas set forth values on how one is to treat others and the niyamas outline how we our to treat ourselves.

In some parts of India, a new yogi would not be allowed to even roll out their mat to do the physical postures until these values were studied and embodied in every day conduct. For me, they provide a starting point as I set my intentions for the coming months.

Donna Farhi's discussion on how to apply the yamas and niyamas in contemporary life is the best I’ve encountered. This can be found in the introductory pages of her second yoga book, Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit: A Return to Wholeness.