The Yoga of Finances

The practice of yoga invites us to evaluate those things in our lives that are necessary and to discard the things that aren't necessary. In a pose, this means looking for areas that are holding onto unnecessary tension, or releasing what doesn't need to be working at that moment, letting go of the "monkey mind" and focusing on where we are right now. Where we first learn this in the practice of asana yoga, we can then take this into our daily lives as well.

In this time of economic hardship, it becomes necessary to delve deeper into our programming, to examine what is truly necessary and what is not. For each of us, this process will differ. But generally, what is necessary? Our physical needs are necessary; as are our homes/shelter, food, and the employment that provides these things. How they are provided must also be examined (eating at home vs eating out.)There are many options for cutting down on costs. One way my family has cut down on costs has been to become more mindful of where our money goes. For instance, shopping the sale ads for grocery stores before we go shopping; evaluating our meal planning and letting go of those things that aren't serving us right now. The practice of mindfulness is just that; bringing more awareness to our daily actions and thought processes.

Because finances, like bodies, are so individualized, there is no one solution. Instead, invite yourself to become mindful about your spending habits. Ask yourself what is necessary, and what is not. Identify what is a "want" and what is a "need." Also consider ways that you might create an attitude of abundance. Remind yourself that when your basic needs are met, you have abundance. In our consumer-driven society, we are constantly looking outward to find fulfillment, looking for the newest shiny thing that might make us feel complete. Yoga tells us we are already complete!

This month, dedicate some time to evaluating your spending and bringing more mindfulness to every purchase you make. Ask yourself, "is this a want or a need?"

Cultivate a feeling of abundance by reminding yourself of the needs you have that are already being met and remembering that you are already whole and complete.