We have a problem.
Me.
You.
And most other people too.
We can’t even help it.
But now it’s our problem. 😉
It’s called:
Worldly desire.
Sounds pretty complicated.
Maybe even a little esoteric.
But it actually means something very ordinary.
We want to own things.
We want to have beautiful experiences.
We want pleasure and as little pain as possible.
We want recognition, success, and maybe even a little influence.
And of course, we want to be on the losing side as rarely as possible.
Actually, that sounds like a pretty good recipe for a happy life:
Lots of money.
Lots of pleasure.
Lots of beautiful experiences.
Recognition. Friends. Success.
And as little pain and suffering as possible.
What could possibly be wrong with that?
Actually, nothing.
And that’s exactly where the problem begins.
Because this desire is deeply wired into us.
Our ancestors had to fight for the things they needed to survive and reproduce.
Food.
Safety.
Partners.
Status.
Belonging.
It made sense to want to own things.
It made sense to seek recognition.
It made sense to avoid pain and danger.
nd it made sense to seek pleasurable experiences.
This programming has taken us pretty far.
Unfortunately, there’s a problem:
The world has changed.
But our old programming hasn’t.
High-calorie, fatty, and sugary foods are available everywhere today.
For most of us, everyday life is no longer about basic survival.
And yet something inside us keeps saying:
More!
More money.
More success.
More recognition.
More beautiful things.
More experiences.
More pleasure.
More security.
And at some point, we may realize:
We’re running.
And running.
And running.
But somehow we never arrive.
What was supposed to make us happy turns into a hamster wheel.
Stress.
Tension.
Anxiety.
And the constant hope:
Once I have THAT, I’ll be happy.
But usually, there’s another THAT waiting for us. 😉
So:
How do we get out of this?
How can we live a truly happy life?
Maybe it begins with a pretty simple realization:
Happiness doesn’t come from what happens outside of us.
What matters is what happens within us.
And this is exactly where yoga begins for me.
And especially Naked Yoga.
Because in Naked Yoga, you don’t simply take off your clothes.
You can also begin to let go of something else:
The constant wanting to have more.
The comparing.
The desire to have to be someone.
The fear of not being good enough.
You learn to become aware of your desires without being completely controlled by them.
And this definitely does not mean that you’re no longer allowed to enjoy anything.
Quite the opposite.
Enjoy!
Be happy!
Live!
But don’t make your happiness depend on it.
Enjoy without holding on.
Maybe that’s one of the most beautiful forms of freedom.
Instead of constantly wanting more:
Non-attachment.
Equanimity.
Serenity.
Inner joy.
A dynamic, vibrant life, open to many possibilities.
A life that isn’t constantly restricted by the next desire.
And a life in which you don’t keep getting in your own way with your thoughts.
Maybe, in a way, this is what yoga means:
Reprogramming our innate programming just a little bit.
Not against life.
But for more freedom in life.
What are you waiting for?
The best time to start is today.
It’s worth it. ❤️
I’ll help you along the way.
Yours,
Elke
😘
