Lessons from Mother Nature
This magnificent Great Egret stood in the front yard of Sunrise Scottsdale Assisted Living as I drove up to teach my Wednesday chair yoga class. I was a few minutes early and was able to sit there an enjoy the bird as it stood still, walked, and looked around. The street traffic and a couple in a nearby bench did not distress this bird as it basked the beautiful spring weather.
At the beginning of the class I asked the students, whose faces lit-up as I showed them the bird’s picture, how they would describe this bird.
- Majestic
- Dignified
- Graceful
- Stately
- Confident
- Tall
- Classy
- Proud
- Elegant
Then I asked my chair yoga students to sit in mountain pose showing the same qualities as this bird. They responded and showed a new admiration for themselves. The same command was given throughout the class. After class I again asked them to leave and walk into the lunch room with all the above characteristics. When you are over 70, have some cognitive impairment and, maybe, don’t think too highly of yourself, these elements are critical.
May you stand in mountain pose with majesty, dignity, grace, stateliness, confidence, height, class, pride and elegance.
Namaste’