Movement creates stillness

Deepak Chopra advises, "In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you"

This looks beautiful on paper. Not so easy in practice. 

The movement and chaos that Deepak is referring to is the movement and chaos that so often takes place in our minds.

According to Yoga Philosophy and Buddhism, this uncontrollable movement of our minds causes much of our suffering. 

The Buddhists call this mind state, "monkey mind" comparing our unfocused minds to a mischievous monkey who is always chattering, jumping from branch to branch, or maybe even flinging poo!

Thousands of years ago, the science of yoga was developed to "still the fluctuations of the mind". The Eight Limbed Path of Yoga was developed to help us control our mind's tendency to be all over the place.

Meditation is one of the tools that was written in the Yoga Sutras to help us still our ever moving minds. When our minds are calm and centered, we can know ourselves for who we really are, which according to yoga philosophy is pure love and divinity.

Again, this looks beautiful on paper. Not so easy in practice.

An easier way to "keep stillness inside of you" is by moving your body. 

Think of a baby. When they are tired, bored, agitated, or uncomfortable, the best way to calm them down is movement. Mothers instinctively know this, and will rock, bounce, or swing a baby to soothe and comfort them.

Think of yourself. If you are tired, unfocused, agitated, or uncomfortable, the best way to calm yourself down is also movement. Any kind of movement at all will most likely have the effect of calming your mind as you direct your attention to the movement of your body. 

A poo slinging monkey left to his own devices could potentially create chaos all around him. Giving him a task or an object to focus on will likely direct his attention and calm him down.
 
Our minds left to their own devices can also potentially create chaos around us. When we can focus our attention on one thing we can go from distraction to direction.  Using movement to create stillness is a task that will not only benefit your body, but your mind and spirit as well.

Move your body and you will still your mind.

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