Hello June,

“When performing asanas,” BKS Iyengar said, “no part of the body should be idle, no part should be neglected. This statement has remained with me because he equates idleness with neglect. If work on the mat prepares us for daily life, perhaps we should take a look at how we act in life. So often we simply crave a moment of idleness: free from work, from school, from responsibilities. And yet, indulging in such moments could be deemed neglect or disregard.  

How can we avoid being careless when our attention is constantly being divided-even between tasks? Through the practice of yoga, we learn that while attention might be divided, awareness is not. Can you be aware of your big toe even as you focus on your thumb? That is the goal. Thus, we mitigate distractions as best we can and avoid excesses of behavior and consumption.

Avoiding excesses is brahmacharya, the fourth yama or social attitude of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. Patanjali focuses on restraining sensual pleasures to promote vigor of body and mind. Consider any tale about a young man who is put off by the father of the bride with a task to delay marriage or the virtue of celibacy in religious texts. I would suggest that any excess of behavior or consumption, be it binge watching a show or even working out until your mind and body are depleted results in a lack of vigor and ultimately, idleness.

Enjoy and have fun and remain aware. The next time you feel tempted to overindulge, take a moment and asses, because awareness is everything.