The two practices of sati, or mindfulness, and metta, love and kindness, are distinctly different, but you cannot practice one without the other. It's important to understand their differences in order to make the most out of your yoga practice.

To start with, you cannot practice metta without sati. Sati is the mindfulness and awareness of what is. There is no imagination or visualization - what is simply is, and we must stay grounded in this practice in order to achieve mindfulness.

Achieving this mindfulness is easier said than done because sitting and meditating is very intimidating to most of us. We are carrying existential pain and suffering deep within us and meditation forces us to sit with this pain. There's absolutely nothing comfortable about that. But as you practice sati, you are practicing ways to observe this pain without fueling it.

This objective way of looking at our thoughts and emotions makes it possible to practice metta. Metta is the power of creation through conscious thinking. When we practice metta, we are actively planting positive thoughts in our heart's center of love, kindness, peace, and harmony, both toward ourselves and those around us.

These positive thoughts can be things like "I am worthy" or "I deserve to be happy," but they can also be as simple as the mere thought of love. Thinking of someone or something you love is part of the practice of metta. These thoughts tap into the vibration of love and give you the power to carry it within you and share it with others.

As you listen today, think of your mind and heart as a garden. Sati will clear away the overgrowth of negative thoughts so you can plant the seeds of metta in an open mind and an open heart.

I hope you recognize how important sati and metta are to not only our yoga practice but also to our own peace of mind. You cannot practice metta without sati because you cannot plant seeds of love before recognizing the pain and suffering that exists within your heart.

Share some of what's in your heart with me and my listeners. Send an email at [email protected] and tell me - what does yoga mean to you? You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast with Kino MacGregor.

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