005_The Fourth of "7 Ways to Take a Deep Breath": Play

“Play” isn’t a button on Netflix….

Hindu tradition has the idea of “līlā”, the play of the gods.

Most often associated with “līlā” is the Hindu god Krishna, who plays the flute in a manner so mesmerizing, so utterly enchanting, that the goddesses who surround him cannot help themselves but dance. 

Dance:  it is play of the gods.

The body is a source of wisdom so deep and rich that we might think it a gift from the gods.  We know exactly what it is that we need to do in any moment, in any relationship, in any situation.

The act of courage is to be able to listen, and to trust, even when it might not “make sense” to our conceptual minds.

Much of life doesn’t “make sense”:  it simply is sense….and its reasons, and meanings, and purposes, and its “please tell me it was not all for nothings” make themselves known to us – often – over time.

If we can act in a way that the body, heart and the mind are able to trust, then we come closer to the freedom and space that comes of being actively – electrically - alive.

One way to connect with this  is through play.

“Play” is not a button on Netflix.

Can you find an activity of any kind – but especially one that includes body movement – that you can do for the sheer joy of it?

What is genuine play for you?  Do you play music?  Do you play a musical instrument or sing?

Our bodies, minds and hearts tend to secretly come into alignment without our noticing it when we engage in play.

Is it yoga or tai chi?

One day, I will learn how to kayak.

One of my best days ever was a walk in a stream, hearing the splash of it as I moved over the rocks, through the woods, to find the river at the mouth of the stream.

Play.

Is it hockey or soccer, football or rugby?  Perhaps especially if you play competitive sport, remember to engage the spirit of play.  This is where magic happens.  There is where what needs to happen happens all by itself:  some part of you knows exactly what you need to do and when.  You can trust that.

Engage an activity, or movement of some kind, with a spirit of play.

What kind of movement can you do just because you love it...not because you're supposed to exercise, or because you want to have this or that body shape.

Do it because it's fun.  It is the intent – the spirit of play – in any activity - that makes the difference.

Are you a runner? Do you like to walk in that magical period sometime between 4:00 and 6:00 in the morning, when the sun hasn't risen yet and the world is still asleep?

Some part of your body knows the movement that it can do to help to relax, release, and play in a space of openness.

Engage the body – engage any activity – with the spirit of play:  exercise, movement, dance... you know what it is....  Play because it’s fun. 

It is a way to offer ourselves space to hear the wisdom of the body….left there, perhaps, as a gift from the gods.

The quality of the relationship that you have with the outside world directly relates to the quality of relationship you have with yourself.  For a free list of the full menu of “7 Ways to Take a Deep Breath”, come see us at “justbreatheyouareenough.com”.

I'm Adela, and you've been listening to Just Breathe....You Are Enough™.  You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If you haven't yet, please subscribe, rate and review this podcast. Join us next time, and thank you for listening.

Copyright © 2018, Adela Sandness