A Lesson From My Yoga Teacher: Learn to Worry Less

Yesterday during the final meditation phase of my Pranavayu yoga class at Exhale, our teacher (David Magone) said something that really stood out to me. Each day he brings a new lesson to his practice, and yesterday’s was on worrying.

He said that we all spend far too much time worrying, jumping from one worry to the next, that we’re wasting time. As we’re busy taking time to worry, we’re actually hurting ourselves by missing out on the time we have to take action.

For the next 10 minutes, he had us lay there on our mats, eyes closed. Whenever a worry was to jump to our mind, we were to mentally bring ourselves back to the practice, the now. After all, a worry is something that comes from the inside, and by the power of our mind we can shut that worry out for a while, or ultimately eliminate it alltogether.

If you’re like me, you worry way too much about things that aren’t even worth worrying about. For instance, I tend to worry too much about the future: the what if, the but, the fear of the unknown. However, lately I’ve realized that worrying isn’t going to change anything. Instead, I’m working on staying positive and living my day-to-day life as it comes.

What a relief a worry-free life could be.

Do you spend too much time worrying? What could you do to mentally shut some of these thoughts off?

9 Responses to “A Lesson From My Yoga Teacher: Learn to Worry Less”

  1. Jess Says:

    Wow. That must have been such an eye-opening moment – to sit there for ten minutes actively working on not letting your mind go to that “worry spot.” I am totally going to try this – in fact, I think it’s something worth doing daily even. Practicing *not* worrying versus letting our minds so easily go to the “what if” spot we definitely don’t need to be spending time in. GREAT post.

  2. Kathy The Boston Sports Woman Says:

    Oh, you teach me so much!

  3. Rachel @Healthy_Chicks Says:

    @Jess It sure was an eye-opening moment! Such an amazing feeling; to just spend time NOT worrying. That’s how it should be, after all. I agree with you that it’s something all of us should try every day.

  4. Rachel @Healthy_Chicks Says:

    @Kathy As do you! ! Let’s plan a date soon : )

  5. Julianna Roche Says:

    Rachel,

    I don’t know if you remember me or not, but we were totally in Indian Guides in Marlborough together and I was really good friends with Krista when I was little! Anyway, I’ve been meaning to tell you that I hear about you from time-to-time since our parents are still friends, and that I think the work you’re doing is awesome! I read your blog when I can and really enjoy it 🙂 Especially today. This entry helped remind me I’m in control of my worries and negative thoughts! So I thought I’d let you know, it helped me out!

    Anyway, keep up the good work and I hope all is well!

  6. Rachel @Healthy_Chicks Says:

    @Julianna Of course I remember you! You are so sweet to say all of that…it really means a lot to me. I’m so glad you enjoy reading my blog, and you were able to take a little something away with you from today’s post : )

  7. Healthy Chicks » Blog Archive » Quotable Sunday: On Washing Away The Worries Says:

    […] other day, I wrote this post regarding a lesson that I learned from my yoga teacher on worrying less – something we should […]

  8. Quotable Sunday: On Washing Away The Worries Says:

    […] On Washing Away The WorriesBy Healthy Chicks – October 23, 2011 The other day, I wrote this post regarding a lesson that I learned from my yoga teacher on worrying less – something we should […]

  9. physical yoga benefits Says:

    Greetings! Very useful advice within this article!

    It’s the little changes that will make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!

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This entry was posted on Thursday, October 20th, 2011 at 7:49 am and is filed under Health & Wellness, Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.