Multiple Paths

Yoga has multiple paths. Yogi philosophers describe four. Karma Yoga is the path of action. Bhakti Yoga is the path of love/worship/music/art. Raja Yoga is direct meditation, and internal reflection on the workings of the mind. Jnana Yoga, takes the approach of study and knowledge. Attempting to understand how other people have looked at the world, contemplating, looking for patterns, learning, communicating, and simplifying. 

Yoga isn't only done on a mat. You can use all four paths or focus on one. Despite the same destination, the path is something you choose for yourself. Choice through becoming aware of what works for you, from where you are. Choice through iteration. Through trial and error. Through micro-ambition. Small, achievable goals that add up. An ounce of practice, followed by another ounce. Creating a loop that engages you. 

The concept of flow is meditative. You are fully engaged because your particular skills and knowledge match the challenge in a way that fully engages you. You are neither anxious because your ability is stretched beyond capacity, nor bored because not all of your attention is on your point of focus. 

The ideal is to build a daily practice that allows you to engage and create meaning in a way that resonates with your intention. 

Releasing the control of temporary problems and waves of anxiety does require a certain amount of attention. They go away if and when you deal with them. 

The key is to create a level of separation from the problem. “You are not the problem, the problem is the problem.”