120 pages

English

Vous pourrez modifier la taille du texte de cet ouvrage

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Flex Your Mind , livre ebook

Practical Inspiration Publishing - Rachel Bonkink

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

120 pages

English

Vous pourrez modifier la taille du texte de cet ouvrage

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

A roadmap for personal and professional transformation - ancient principles plus practical application.

·
Relatable, using practical,
real-life examples and a down-to-earth approach.

·
The author has a strong
corporate background.

·
The 10 principles go beyond
ethics and moral codes, but they will effectively change behaviour.

·
The principles teach us how to
stop worrying and how to change our thoughts.

·
Set out as a fast and practical
manual that is easy to grasp.

·
This roadmap for transformation
includes break-out boxes and questions for reflection, as well as exercises at
the end of each chapter.

Introduction

Chapter 1: Non-violence

Non-violence
as the foundation of all yogic philosophy and the quality of the strong. I dive
into the different manifestations of violence, zooming into our thoughts,
judging and social media, and revealing techniques to generate more kindness
and compassion towards ourselves and others.

Chapter 2: Truthfulness

Knowing
your truth, your true Self and not lying—not to others, nor to yourself. I discuss
the power of secrets, silence, listening and the words we speak.

Chapter 3: Non-stealing

Not
about stealing objects or money, rather on stealing other people’s time, joy
and enthusiasm. It means not stealing from the earth, nor from ourselves. This
requires slowing down, taking ownership, controlling our greed and feeling true
abundance.

Chapter 4: Energy management

Regulating
our energy and resources to avoid and burn out. This requires us to figure out
what brings us energy and what takes energy. I also discuss topics like breaking
free from bad habits, the relativity of our jobs and focus.

Chapter 5: Non-attachment

Non-attachment
or the liberation from greed. This includes the freedom that comes with not
wanting more stuff, but also covers not hanging on to old beliefs, patterns,
habits, relationships, people, a career or a position. At the same time, we see
how mastery of this principle will give us exactly what we want.

Chapter 6: Purity

Which
involves cleansing both body and mind. I ask the reader: If our thoughts were
beamed on a big screen above us, would we be in trouble? I further the
discussion by looking at judging, simplicity, health and working out. The need
for meditation is being introduced as a means of psychological hygiene and
mental fitness.

Chapter 7: Contentment

The
internal state of happiness and satisfaction. This includes accepting life as
it is and examining our own expectations and restlessness.

Chapter 8: Self-discipline

Self-discipline
and motivation. I explain how to reach goals with intentions and willpower, and
how to examine the process of failure to increase the potential for growth.

Chapter 9: Self-inquiry

Involving
a frank discussion of why we do the things that we do. This practice is about
spiritual passion and cultivating an eagerness to know Self, with a capital S.

Chapter 10: Surrender

Having
full trust that things will work out. This requires us to look at our fear and
show our true Self.

Sujets

Santé et bien-être

Bien-être émotionnel

Sport

Sports fitness

Gestion de carrière

Body

World

Yoga

Alternative medicine

Mind

Self-help (disambiguation)

Stress Management

Mental Health

Self-Help

Bien-être au travail

Informations

Publié par	Practical Inspiration Publishing
Date de parution	23 juillet 2020
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781788601788
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0450€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

A note from Paul Grilley, the leading Yin Yoga innovator and teacher
Patanjali organizes his system of yoga as eight limbs. The first two of these eight limbs are called yama and niyama. They are universal principles of how to modify our behaviour and cultivate mental attitudes that lead to greater peace, contentment, and spiritual insight.
Because yama and niyama are the most approachable, they are sometimes considered only the beginning of the yogic path. But I believe they are both the beginning and the end of our spiritual life. I believe it is a mistake to think that the other six limbs of yoga take us to a place beyond yama and niyama.
Our spiritual life begins with trying to be better people, to cause less pain and to experience more peace. The heights of our spiritual life, whatever they may be, will only be an amplification of these basic goals.
Whatever its spiritual claims, no matter how impressive its history and tradition, if the teachings of yoga are not made practical, they are of no use to us. Rachel Bonkink has written a book that makes yoga practical.
I hope many students of yoga read and put into practice her excellent presentation of yama and niyama.
Paul Grilley
Ashland, Oregon
April, 2020
My dear friend Rachel has made it her mission to provide a fresh interpretation of the ancient yogic wisdom and to make it relatable to our modern-day world. Written with a mix of humour, vulnerability, personal experience and extensive study, this inspiring book will guide and support readers on their path towards a more authentic and meaningful life.
Carole Dieltiëns
To translate the ancient yoga philosophy teachings and make them accessible for everyone is no easy task. In this book, Rachel has done a fine job in making these concepts and ideas relevant, offering a practical and easy to understand application for integrating them into daily life.
I have had the pleasure of working alongside Rachel many times over a number of years, and have observed how she weaves the philosophy of yoga into her workshops and classes in a very down to earth and inclusive way. Highly recommended reading for yoga students and teachers or indeed anyone interested in deeper self reflection.
Hayley North, Yoga Movement Teacher/Holistic Chef and founder of Holistic Kitchen Academy
Rachel’s new book is not about yoga as we know it. It’s about stretching your mind and becoming more fully yourself, the person you were meant to be. She has written an outstanding treatise that lovingly, kindly, and humorously introduces us to the 10 yogic principles to help us be more fulfilled and happy.
As a psychologist, this book makes my heart sing! Thanks, Rachel, for sharing your joy with the world.
Jennifer Wisdom, PhD MPH, Author of Millennials’ Guide to Work and Millennials’ Guide to Management and Leadership
I feel ‘respect’ for those who, by repetition, master their craft down to the finest detail.
I ‘bow’ for those who, in daily life, align mastery with the Divine.
How do you sit on your yoga mat?
In her own unique and candid way, Rachel created a book on how to flex your mind. This book is feisty, thought provoking, humorous and has tremendous depth at the same time.
Rachel guides you through ten powerful and challenging yoga principles. These principles will profoundly change your Being; on the mat, in your daily life and in your world.
At home or at work, we can all learn from this astonishing book!
Riet Lenaerts, Corporate Shaman, Shaman-Shape-Teacher
Rachel has translated universal and deeply human wisdom into clear guidelines. It’s compelling and instructive at the same time. A must read in these confusing times.
Yamila Idrissi, founder of Kahwa Agency and Riad Feinek in Marrakech

First published in Great Britain by Practical Inspiration Publishing, 2020
© Rachel Bonkink, 2020
The moral rights of the author have been asserted
ISBN 9781788601795 (print)
9781788601788 (epub)
9781788601771 (mobi)
All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the author.
Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The publisher apologizes for any errors or omissions and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.
CONTENTS

Preface
Acknowledgements
About the author
Introduction
1 Non-violence
2 Truthfulness
3 Non-stealing
4 Energy management
5 Non-attachment
6 Purity
7 Contentment
8 Self-discipline
9 Self-inquiry
10 Surrender
Glossary
Bibliography
PREFACE

What is Yoga philosophy? Most people have no idea what to imagine when they hear the term. In this book, I will give you a glimpse of it, in a down-to-earth approach, staying away from anything boring or too spiritual.
My inspiration comes from Patanjali, an Indian sage, and his ideas on ten principles that he describes in his book the Yoga Sutras . These ten principles are just a tiny aspect of the Yoga philosophy. It’s my intention to spark some interest in you for the topic, to plant a seed that leads you to perhaps dive deeper after reading this book, and to share the teachings that I’m so passionate about in the best way I can.
The word Yoga can mean many things. In this particular context, Yoga describes a specific state of mind, a state where there is a certain kind of stillness and a limitation to the fluctuations of the mind.
Flex Your Mind is an invitation to explore Patanjali’s ten principles with me and to realize that Yoga can be practised physically, and mentally, on and off the mat.
Giving well over 100 Yoga philosophy workshops made me realize that it was time to write down what I teach. There were some books out there but people didn’t seem to resonate with them. Most of my clients are either in corporate or are self-employed and many don’t seem to have a particular interest in going through Sanskrit, ancient scriptures and all kinds of new terminology. However, the interest to learn about creating more peace of mind in a hectic world is definitely there.
At the same time, the Yoga teachers that joined my retreats seemed to struggle with passing on the knowledge in a way that didn’t scare their students away.
And that’s exactly where my own struggle began: how could I respect and honour the tradition, while at the same time making this knowledge light and accessible? Leaving out the ancient languages of Sanskrit and Pali was a conscious choice – explaining them in-depth in one version, kicking all the terminology out again in the next version of this book, and happily repeating this scenario twice, up until my niece, with a bundle of love, bluntly told me that she loved what I was saying but that she completely lost the plot and all interest every time I started mumbling those Indian words. She believed that I knew what I was talking about but it would be nice if I could keep it a bit ‘real’; life is complicated enough already as it is.
I instantly knew what to do. I made a glossary at the end and I’m forever grateful to Katinka for her valuable input as so many people have told me that they struggle with the terminology in Yoga philosophy and Buddhism.
I shared what I felt and sensed was necessary and enjoyed writing about my previous working life as an operational director and stressed-out workaholic – a time when things were, let’s say, ‘different’ in every single aspect of my life.
The invitation is there to just start reading. I’m convinced that these ten principles will help you change unwanted behaviour, get you to worry less and help you find a way to flex that beautiful mind of yours to find some more peace of mind.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I want to thank my mom for being my biggest fan, always there for me, always promoting my work and ready to listen. I feel blessed and proud for having you as my mom.
Thanking my friend Alice Morrison, whose own display of self-discipline in writing her books has encouraged me to finish mine, to push through and get it out there. Without her, I might still be wondering what should go in and what shouldn’t, instead of actually writing.
A very special thanks goes to Carole Dieltiëns, Hayley North, Jennifer Wisdom, Riet Lenaerts and Yamila Idrissi who have provided me with incredibly valuable feedback and the confidence that what I wrote made sense.
My worldwide coaching clients and Yoga students gave me the opportunity to learn and grow and it has been an honour to coach and teach every single one of them. The input they have given me, from the cover design to actual content selection, has greatly influenced and shaped this book.
This book would not have been possible without the help of professionals. Thanks to Teresa Antunes, who was the first person to ever have a look at my draft, as well as a big thanks to Dan Shutt for editing the next versions.
The work behind a book with a quality look and feel to it is immense. I am beyond grateful for choosing the well-oiled machine of Practical Inspiration Publishing for making this book with a special thanks to Alison, Shell and Judith.
And my eternal gratitude to Paul Grilley for his review and endorsement; his teachings made a profound impact on the way that I teach Yoga.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Bonkink is no ordinary Yoga teacher. She holds a master’s degree in Commercial Sciences and has had a long corporate career as an operational director. She has studied Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been a life coach for over ten years.
She specializes in organizing and hosting the most amazing Yoga retreats, from Costa Rica to Scotland, from France to Morocco, leading groups, teaching Yoga and meditation in stunning locations and inspiring people to embed the principles of Yoga into their everyday lives.
From the very start of her own