Fortify Yourself
“Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress.”
Dear friends,
The Sanskrit word ananda means bliss, divine joy, happiness, or contentment. Yogis tell us that this joy is not fleeting, nor does it depend on circumstances going our way. Instead it is a steady current, shifting and shimmering quietly beneath the surface of our daily activities.
Whether or not we're aware of it, those positive feelings are always near at hand. Ananda can take many forms - it might feel like a gentle peace, a spark of inspiration, or a simple smile when least expected. It can be the joy of watching the dance of the leaves falling to the ground or the wonder of seeing the mist on the lawn before the sunrise. Ananda is infinitely fluid, taking the shape of what we need at that time.
That current of bliss is always within us, no matter what storms or triumphs pass through our lives. It can support us when times are uncertain and it can share in our greatest achievements as well. We only need to tune in to notice it.
And we can do that when we're practicing yoga - on our mat or in our chair. Each breath, each movement, each pause in our practice, offers us a chance to connect to the joy within. From that point, we can fortify ourselves with bliss.
Ananda!
Nina G