Everything needs a tune up to run smoothly. Think about how your tires wear out when they are out of alignment. Now think about how your body wears out when it is out of alignment!

We would not consider making our precious cars run for mile after mile without the all important oil change, tire rotation, 60,000 mile check up, but when our bodies start to act up, we just brush it off as all the accumulated years, even if not that many years have accumulated!

Misalignment is a part of being human. Before you start to bemoan your lot, think of it as an opportunity. If everything worked perfectly all the time and if every physical endeavor came without having to work at it, where would the joy be? Where would the sense of accomplishment lie?

If everything were perfect all the time how would we even recognize this perfection? We need contrast to appreciate and understand the world around us. We live in a binary world were creation exists in sets of contrary complements. This gives rise to this and that; here and there; now and then; up and down; hot and cold; you get my drift.

This binary existence sets us up for an either/or world. An either/or world sets us up to participate in a zero sum game. If you win, I must then loose. If you have enough I must be lacking. This zero sum game gives rise to feeling of lack, envy, fear, resentment, the list goes on and on.

We can participate in our binary world in one of two ways. We can struggle with the opposites and feel as if we are constantly participating in a battle or we can embrace the opposites and move into a BOTH world. There is no zero sum game in a BOTH world. This is a world of abundance and light. This is a world where there is enough. Fear, envy and resentment can be replaced with contentment and joy, if we choose.

Sounds crazy?

How can this be possible?

It is not as hard as you may think. There is a catch, however, you must participate, you must be accountable, you must long to live fully and deeply and realize your dreams. There is work to do and only you can do it for yourself.

How is this work done? We start with that which is most familiar, our body. We learn to recognize our tendencies. We then decide to be open to learning how to bring these inherent tendencies into balance. The Anusara Yoga Universal Principles of Alignment hold the key. There is a technique to embracing this binary world of our bodies. At first this technique will alleviate the aches and pains that come with the years. By embodying balanced action we start to shift ourselves at the cellular level. We experience first hand that a BOTH world can and does exist because we are doing it with our bodies. If possible in the seemingly set and solid flesh of the body, why not in the ephemeral world of thoughts and emotions?

Just as the body has built in inherent tendencies, our minds do as well. We all know this, think of the knee jerk reactions we have to certain, most likely reoccurring, events in our lives. Until we recognize the tendencies, the tendencies and emotions own us and run our lives.

Balanced action in the body leads to clarity of mind and openness of heart. This clarity and openness makes a space between events in our lives and the ability to handle the events. Without the space we react, we become the victim of the events. With this space we respond and create our world. In this space, ask; does this serve me or the Universal good, or BOTH? Each time you choose BOTH, you illuminate not just your world, but the whole universe. Sure this takes practice. Do you know of anything that is worth doing well that does not?

Every time you recognize a tendency, whether of body, mind or heart and pause to replace the tendency with something life affirming, you bring more light into your life. By this I suggest that you become the creator of your life. You create a life that is abundance. That is enough. That does fulfill your heart's desire. A life rich with meaningful accomplishments and full of contentment.

The next time you take an Anusara Yoga class, be more attuned to the opportunity of embracing those contrary complements. Your body will thank you, as will your heart and mind. If you can make a shift in your very real and solid body, why not in all aspects of your life? You just have to want to participate and be open to the guidance being offered.

By Jamie Allison

Jamie is one of the most respected and inspired yoga instructors in North America.  She speaks with the wisdom of her Senior Certification in Anusara Yoga and long time study of Rajanaka Tantra.  She has been studying closely with Anusara Yoga Founder, John Friend since 1994 and Dr. Douglas Brooks, world renowned scholar of Rajanaka Tantra since 1998.