| Most newcomers to the practice of yoga are | | | | us the simplest and fastest way to get there. Let's |
| surprised at how little they knew about their own | | | | try an exercise: |
| bodies and minds all these years and how little they | | | | Let's say you decide to pick up a glass of water |
| can control either. For the first time, they become | | | | from the table in front of you and put it down again. |
| acutely conscious of the power that the mind has | | | | Sit down comfortably in front of the table, take a |
| over the body and vice versa. There is a dynamic | | | | good look at the glass and note where you will hold |
| interdependence between the body and mind and | | | | it, then notice where your hand is right at this |
| this becomes crystal clear when practicing yoga | | | | moment but don't move it yet. Now close your eyes |
| correctly. We also realize that control over one allows | | | | and relax completely. When you feel ready, picture |
| us control over the other. | | | | your hand s-l-o-w-l-y move towards the glass and |
| Top sports figures tell us that they mentally rehearse | | | | consciously try to picture the fingers form |
| their every physical action over and over again | | | | themselves to get hold of the glass. Stop as you |
| before they actually carry out that action with their | | | | mentally hold the glass, feeling its cool surface and |
| bodies. Champion skiers, bobsledders, golfers, tennis | | | | being careful not to spill any water. Then lift the glass |
| players and figure skaters all do this as a matter of | | | | slowly and put it down just as slowly, bringing your |
| course, as do many other sports people. Golf's | | | | hands back to where they were. Now open your |
| greatest player, Jack Nicklaus, never tires of telling us | | | | eyes and slowly make those same movements, this |
| that he clearly "sees" the ball fly from where it lies to | | | | time making your hand follow the mental picture you |
| where he wants it to go just before he actually | | | | had formed. |
| makes the swing. What you may not realize is that | | | | This simple exercise should help you to see how |
| the very act of visualizing an action like this takes | | | | complex the smallest action really is, not just |
| practice and a tremendous amount of concentration. | | | | physically but mentally as well. More important is the |
| You can try to do this yourself right now and most | | | | understanding that visualization makes movement |
| likely, you will find that you cannot clearly "picture" a | | | | more efficient and the movement in turn makes our |
| chosen action from start to finish without your mind | | | | powers of concentration stronger. |
| wandering. What you should know is that yoga gives | | | | |