Brahmacharya vs the January sales

One of Patanjali's five yamas, brahmacharya literally translates as 'behaviour that leads to Brahman'. It is, therefore, the kind of behaviour that can lead us towards the divine.

Brahman is thought of as the creator in Hinduism. Thus, if you picture the ancient, cave-dwelling yogis who withdrew from everyday life to dedicate their time to deep meditation and connection to their higher selves, it is, perhaps, easy to see the relevance of brahmacharya in the yogic tradition.

But how can we honour this yama in our yoga practice in the modern world? Well, brahmacharya can also be translated as the 'right use of energy' and it is here that we can drill down into its relevance for our lives today.

Retail therapy is a misnomer

It's so easy to give our energy to things that really don't serve us. Take the January sales for example. Traditionally, it's a time that shop sales slow down in the unavoidable, post-Christmas retail slump. Huge 70% discounts lure us back to shopping malls and online sites to buy a whole host of things we really don't need.

We get that initial high from the purchase, and the satisfaction we feel from the money we've saved. But these feelings are fleeting. Before long we are back to where we started, longing for something more, something we hope will satisfy us on a deeper level. 'Retail therapy' really is a misnomer...

Redirect your energy

Brahmacharya encourages us to think about how we can redirect our energies into practices that truly enrich us. In class this week we consider how best to direct our energy away from the material and into the moment. How we can be mindful in every asana and breath. How we can direct our energies off the mat towards positive practices rather than negative. But also consider the practices/situations/emotions in our lives we want to abstain from.

Now, I love a sale just as much as the next person, but this month has instead been about channelling my energy into maintaining a consistent yoga and meditation self-practice. My practice has helped me identify where I want to step forward in life and where I need to step back. That in itself has provided the much-needed soul therapy that retail therapy simply can't touch.

When practising this month, take a moment to consider where and how you want to direct your energy. It might help to consider your goals for the next few months or year. Let me know how you get on...